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BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



VOLUME XV, NUMBER 1 



The Birds of Texa 

An Annotated Check-List 

/ 
By JOHN K STRECKER Jr. 

Curator Baylor University Museum 





FOUNDED IN 1845 AT INDEPENDENCE 
UNDER THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS 



JANUARY, 1912 



PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY 

ENTERED AS SECOND CLASS MATTER AT THE POST OFFICE AT WACO, TEXAS 



PRINT OF THE 

BAYLOR UNIVERSITY PRESS 

WACO. TEXAS 



MAH 5 1911 



QLU4 






BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 

PUBLISHED BI-MONTHLY AT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY, WACO, TEXAS 
Henry Lee Hargrove, Ph. D., Editor Francis Marion Allen, A. B., Manager 



INTRODUCTION 



In compiling the following check-list of Texas birds, the writer has tried to be 
conservative and has only included those species which he was satisfied from 
authentic published record or personal knowledge, were inhabitants of the State. He 
regrets that the members of the United States Biological Survey were not permitted 
by the State authorities to continue their investigations, as they would in all prob- 
ability have added much to our knowledge concerning the birds of Western Texas. 
The writer, although he is connected with one of the largest educational institutions 
in Texas, is not permitted to take birds for scientific purposes; yet it is a fact that 
during the three years prior to the enactment of the present law, he collected only 
eleven specimens, six of which were migrating waterbirds, for the shooting of which 
he would not at any time have been liable for a fine. At the same time, out-of-State 
correspondents write that they constantly receive birds and eggs from Southern 
Texas and wonder why he has discontinued his investigations. The chances are that 
the most of these "Southern Texas birds" were collected along the Valley of the 
Lower Rio Grande in Northern Mexico and labeled up to suit the occasion. Such 
things have happened! 

I had the privilege of meeting one of the Biological Survey collectors — Mr. 
Arthur Howell, a gentleman in every sense the word implies and a true lover of Na- 
ture. He is an investigator, not a bird murderer and all of the specimens taken by 
him were for the purpose of studying their food habits in connection with the boll 
weevil investigation and the whole number collected during his Texas stay 
would not amount to as much in the sum total as the vandal-like work of the aver- 
age small boy during the summer season. 

The birds of Texas, or at least the majority of them, are on the rapid road to 
extermination, the result of the clearing up of waste lands, the cutting down of 
pine forests, the draining of swamps and lagoons, and the brutality of those inhuman 
beasts in the guise of men who annually get the "blood lust" and go forth to slay for 
gain or so-called sport. To the true sportsman, lover of the woods and fields, who 



BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



believes in obeying the laws, not only those of the State but also those of common 
decency and humanity and kills within the limit and then only such birds as can be 
considered game, I am willing to take off my hat and call brother. But for the man (?) 
who considers Robins, Larks and Mockingbirds fair game, I have absolutely no re- 
spect. 

The Agriculturists are beginning to suffer for their sin of omission in not shot- 
gunning the lunk-headed louts who formerly overran their fields and wooded pas- 
tures, slaughtering for the sake of killing, every living wild thing in sight, and then 
chucking the contents of their bag in the first trash box on their return home. 

In my day I was too late to witness the great flights of wild pigeons; but I can 
remember a time when plume birds and other water fowl were myriad in the grassy 
lagoons of Eastern and Southern Texas, and many of these are soon to be numbered 
with the Ivory-billed Woodpecker and Carolina Paroquet as birds which have recent- 
ly become extinct! The agency? Man's inhumanity to man and every other mov- 
ing, living, breathing thing on earth. Of what benefit is a beautiful Heron, a curious 
Snake Bird, an ungainly Pelican? — I am asked. Of what benefit is a flower — a 
weeping willow — a tiny cascade — a rugged hill? Merely something natural for us 
to gaze upon and reflect on the greatness and goodness of Him who created every- 
thing and on the insignificance of man who created nothing but selfishness and van- 
dalism and whose principal aim seems to be to reduce to dust, every beautiful thing 
before its time. 

As this is merely a preliminary list, I have made no attempt to append a com- 
plete bibliography. I have consulted every book or paper containing a reference to 
a Texas bird that was in any way accessible to me. In its preparation I have made 
liberal use of the ranges of many species as ontlined in Mr. Ridgway's monumental 
work on the Birds of North and Middle America. (Parts I-II-III-IV.) 

In the case of species recorded from the trans-Pecos country, I have as a rule 
used the notes of Oberholser and Bailey in preference to my own, as they were first 
on the ground. In most instances I have followed the arrangement used in the A. 
0. U. Check-List as to family divisions but in the case of the Passerine birds I have 
faithfully followed Ridgway as I consider him the greatest living authority on our 
Avi-Fauna. I am a little doubtful of the status of some of the recently described 
subspecies, but if the splitters (and they are in the majority at the present time) are 
willing to accept these as valid races, I must bow in deference to their superior dis- 
crimination. 

For a description of the physical characteristics of the different regions of the 
State, I will refer the reader to Mr. Vernon Bailey's excellent report on the Biological 



THE BIRDS OF TEXAS 



Survey of Texas (North American Fauna, No. 25, 1905, published by the Bureau of 
Biological Survey, Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C). By far the best 
physical map that I have seen is one by Prof. Robert Hill. It gives a splendid 
idea of the location and extent of the Grand and Coast Prairies and the other divi- 
sions in Eastern and Central Texas and indicates the line of the Staked Plains in 
Western Texas with marvelous accuracy. Published by the United States Geological 
Survey. 

W. W. Cooke's "Report on Bird Migration in the Mississippi Valley," published 
by the U. S. Department of Agriculture in 1888, and the same author's recent report 
on "The Distribution and Migration of North American Warblers," were invaluable 
to me, as they aided me greatly in working out the status of many species and en- 
abled me to divide them into migrants and winter residents. The only possible ob- 
jection to the Warbler report is that it includes mention of some of Giraud's 
"Texas" (?) species which should have long ago been excluded from the A. 0. U. 
Check-List. 

Davie's "Nests and Eggs of North American Birds" (fifth edition) and Bendire's 
"Life Histories of North American Birds," furnished breeding records not found in 
other sources. 

Mrs. Florence Merriam Bailey's "Handbook of the Birds of the Western United 
States," one of the best general works on the birds of the western region ever pub- 
lished, was consulted frequently, as were also the works of Elliot, Coues, Baird, 
Cassin and many others. 

The following papers furnished the majority of the local records aside from the 
author's manuscript notes: 

Attwater, H. P. List of Birds Observed in the Vicinity of San Antonio, Bexar 
County, Texas. (The Auk, IX, 1893, pp. 229-238 and 337-345.) 

Beckham, C. W. Observations on the Birds of Southwestern Texas. (Proc. U. 
S. Nat. Mus., 1887, pp. 633-697.) 

Beyer, Geo. E. The Avi-Fauna of Louisiana. (1889. Author's separate.) 

Brown, N. C. A Reconnaissance in Southwestern Texas. (Bull. Nutt. Ornith. 
Club, VII, 1882, 33-42.) A Second Season in Texas. (The Auk, I, 
1884, pp. 120-124). 

Butcher, H. B. List of Birds Collected at Laredo. (Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. 
Phila., Vol. XX, 1868, pp. 148-150). 

Carroll, J. J. Notes on the Birds of Refugio County, Texas. (The Auk, XVII, 
1900, pp. 337-348). 



6 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



Chapman, F. M. On the Birds Observed near Corpus Christi, Texas, during 
parts of March and April, 1901. (Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., Ill, No. 2, 
1891, pp. 315-328). 

Donald J. A. and More, R. L. A List of the Birds of Wise County, Texas. (The 
Naturalist, Austin, Texas, I, No's. 3-4-5-6-8). 

Dresser, H. E. Notes on the Birds of Southern Texas. (Ibis, 1865, pp. 312-330; 
466-495; 1866, pp. 23-46). 

Hancock, J. L. Notes and Observations on the Ornithology of Corpus Christi 
and Vicinity, Texas. (Bull. Ridgway Orn. Club, 1887, 2, pp. 11-23). 

Lloyd, William. Birds of Tom Green and Concho Counties, Texas. (The Auk, 
IV, 1884). 

Merrill, J. C. Notes on the Ornithology of Southern Texas, being a List of Birds 
Observed in the Vicinity of Fort Brown, from February, 1876, to June 
1878. (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., I, 1878, pp, 118-173). 

Oberholser, H. C. Some Notes from Western Texas. (The Auk, XIX, 1902, 
pp. 300-301). 

Sennett, G. B. Notes on the Ornithology of the Lower Rio Grande, from Obser- 
vations made in 1877. (Bull. U. S. Geol. Surv. Terr., IV, No. 1, 1878, 
pp. 1-66) . Further Notes on the Ornithology of the Lower Rio Grande, 
from Observations made in the Spring of 1878. (Bull. U. S. Geol. 
Surv. V, 1879, No. 3, pp. 371-440). 

Singley, J. A. List of Birds Observed in Lee County, Texas. Notes on the Birds 
of Galveston Island. List of Birds Observed at Corpus Christi and on 
the Lower Rio Grande. (Report Texas Geological Survey). Also 
manuscript notes supplementing the Lee county paper, and many 
papers by Brewster, Sennett, Brown, Ragsdale and others. 

The writer has been a resident of Waco, Texas, since the fall of 1889, and be- 
lieves that he has a pretty general knowledge of the Avi-Fauna of the central sec- 
tion of the State, including the counties of McLennan, Bosque, Limestone, Falls, Hill, 
Robertson, Williamson, Burnet, Travis, Llano, and others in the district. He has col- 
lected material in Bee, Refugio and Matagorda counties in the southeastern coast 
district, in Midland on the southern plains, in Jeff Davis, Presidio and Brewster in 
the mountains of trans-Pecos Texas, in Armstrong and Potter in the Panhandle, and 
in scattered localities in other sections. 

The hypothetical list appended is short and deals with species sometimes re- 
ferred to as Texan birds but of which up to the present time the writer has no evi- 



THE BIRDS OF TEXAS 



dence to show that they are really entitled to a place here. Such species as Giraud's 
Flycatcher, the Red, Brasher's and Bell's Warblers and others described by the same 
authority have until late years been considered stragglers to Texas but more recent 
explorations serve to show that many of them do not even occupy intervening 
territory between their natural habitats and our southern boundary. Probably no 
more than three of Giraud's "Sixteen Species of Texas (?) Birds" will ever be taken 
within the boundaries of the Lone Star State. 



The Birds of Texas 

ORDER Pygopodes. Diving Birds 
FAMILY Podocipidae. Grebes 

1. Colymbus auritus. Horned Grebe. 

Gulf coast in winter (November to the latter part of April). 

2. Colymbus nigricollis californicus. American Eared Grebe. 

Summer resident in the western half of the State. Recorded as 
breeding in Wise county by Donald and More. Southeastward in 
winter to the coast. 

3. Colymbus dominicus brachypterus. Least Grebe. 

Lower Rio Grande (Cameron and Hidalgo counties) resident. 

4. Podilymbus podiceps. Pied-billed Grebe. 

Resident, breeding from the northern border south to Brownsville. In 
the coast counties more abundant in winter. 

FAMILY Gaviidae. Loons 

5. Gavia imber. Loon: Great Northern Diver. 

Migrates through the eastern half of the State, wintering on the coast. 
Interior records: San Angelo (Lloyd) and Waco (Strecker). The bulk 
of the birds return north about the 10th of April. One Waco bird 
was shot on April 18. In the fall Loons usually pass through Waco 
about the middle of November. 

ORDER Longipennes. Long-winged Swimmers. 

FAMILY Laridae. Gulls and Terns. 

6. Larus argentatus. Herring Gull. 

Winters along the Gulf coast. 

7. Larus californicus. California Gull. 

Singley collected two immature specimens on Galveston Island. 
Identified by Ridgway. 



10 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



8. Lams delawarensis. Ring-billed GulL 

Common during the fall and winter months, frequenting the Gulf 
coast and the lakes in the southern section of the State. During the 
migrations occasionally remaining on the small inland lakes for 
several days on a stretch. Specimens from Waco (October and April) 
in Baylor museum. 

9. Lams atricilla. Laughing Gull. 

Abundant resident along the coast. Breeding on Bird and Padre 
Islands, Matagorda Peninsula, etc. 

10. Lams franklinii. Franklin Gull. 

Tolerably common winter resident on the Gulf coast Regular mi- 
grant in spring, some years remaining on inland lakes for weeks at a 
time. Specimens from Waco bear dates from April 29 to May 5. 

11. Lams glaucus. Glaucous Gull. 

Straggler from the north. Clay county, Texas, (Ragsdale, Bull Nutt 
Orn. Club, VI, 1881, p. 187.) 

12. Lams Philadelphia. Bonaparte Gull. 

Winter resident on Gulf coast, not common. 

13. Xema sabinii. Sabine Gull. 

Casual visitor to the coast in winter. 

14. Geloehelidon nilotica. Gull-billed Tern. 

Resident along the Gulf coast 

15. Sterna caspia. Caspian Tern. 

Resident on the coast. Common. 

16. Sterna maxima. Royal Tern. 

Common on the Gulf coast and on many of the lagoons and marshes 
from Corpus Christi southward. 

17. Sterna saad7ichensis acuflavida. Cabot Tern. 

Common resident of the coast and lagoons in Southeastern Texas. 

18. Sterna forsteri. Forster Tern. 

Abundant in the lagoons and marshes of Southern Texas. Migrates 
through Eastern Texas with considerable regularity in the spring, these 
birds of course being the northern contingent from the upper Missis- 
sippi Valley. 
IS. Sterna himndo. Common Tern. 

Resident in some portions of Southern Texas. Common migrant 



THE BIRDS OF TEXAS 11 



20. Sterna antillarum. Least Tern. 

Formerly abundant on the coast, breeding in all favorable localities. 
Now extremely rare. A bird that has suffered greatly from the bru- 
talities of the millinery gunner. 

21. Sterna fuliginosa. Sooty Tern. 

Rather rare resident along the coast. 

22. Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis. Black Tern. . 

Irregular migrant. Three records from Waco in April 

23. Anous stolidus. Noddy. 

Rather uncommon resident on the coast. 

FAMILY Rhynchopidae. Skimmers. 

24. Rhynchops nigra. Black Skimmer. 

Common resident along the coast. 

ORDER Steganopodes. Totipalmate Swimmers. 
FAMILY Anhingidae. Darters. 

25. Anhinga anhinga. Anhinga. 

Rather common resident of the eastern and southern parts of the 
State. Rare summer resident in the vicinity of San Antonio. Speci- 
mens from Waco in the Baylor Museum (November and April.) 

FAMILY Sulidae. Gannets, Boobies, etc. 

26. Sula bassana. Gannet. 

Occasional on the Gulf coast. 

27. Sula sula. Booby. 

Irregular visitant to the coast. 

FAMILY Phalacrocoracidae. Cormorants. 

28. Phalacrocorax auritus. Double-crested Cormorant. 

Straggler. A specimen in the Baylor University collection was shot 
at Elm Lake, McLennan County, on October 15, 1911. Length 32; Tail 
6.75; Bill 3.50: Tarsus 2.30. 

29. Phalacrocorax auritus floridanus. Florida Cormorant. 

Rather common on the Gulf coast and in extreme Eastern Texas, 
breeding in favorable localities. 



12 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



30. Phalacrocorax mexicanus. Mexican Cormorant. 

Gulf coast region, breeding abundantly in the marshes of the Brown- 
ville country. North in summer to Louisiana. 

FAMILY Pelecanidae. Pelicans. 

31. Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, American White Pelican. 

Abundant migrant. Winters on the Gulf coast in great numbers. 
Very abundant during the migrations in Central and Western Texas. 

32. Pelecarius occidentalis. Brown Pelican. 

Common resident on the coast, breeding on the islands and formerly 
on the mainland. Butcher recorded specimens from Laredo in May 
but as a rule the birds rarely go inland. 

FAMILY Fregatidae. Man-o'War Birds. 

33. Fregata aquila. Man-o'War Bird. 

Coast region from Louisiana to the mouth of the Rio Grande River. 
In July, 1908, the writer observed many specimens on Matagorda 
Bay. 

ORDER Anseres. Lamellirostral Swimmers. 
FAMILY Anatidae. Ducks, Geese and Swans. 

34. Merganser americanus. American Merganser. 

Winter resident, rather common on the coast but rare in the interior. 

35. Merganser serrator. Red-breasted Merganser 

Winter resident not uncommon in the coast counties. Rare in East- 
central Texas (Waco). 

36. Lophodytes cucuLlatus. Hooded Merganser. 

Not uncommon winter resident of the coast counties. Reported only 
as a migrant from San Antonio, Giddings. Waco and other stations in 
the interior. 

37. Anas platyrhyncha. Mallard. 

Common migrant and winter resident. 

38. Anas fulvigula maculosa. Mottled Duck. 

Eastern Texas, south to the Rio Grande. Breeds abundantly in the 
marshes and lagoons of Neuces, San Patricio. Refugio and other south- 
eastern counties. May breed throughout its state range. Rare in 
Central Texas (Waco). 



THEBIRDSOFTEXAS 13 



39. Anas rubripes. Black Duck. 

Exceedingly rare migrant. The majority of the records for this spe- 
cies evidently refer to the Mottled Duck. Rare migrant, possibly 
straggler, in the vicinity of Waco. 

40. Chaulelasmus streperus. Gadwall. 

Abundant migrant and common winter resident. Rare in the interior 
in winter but abundant on the coast. 

41. Mareca americana. Baldpate. 

Rather common winter resident. Cooke (Bird Migration in the Mis- 
sissippi Valley) says that it has been known to breed in Texas but I 
have no record of it. 

42. Nettion carolinensis. Green-winged Teal. 

. Abundant migrant, not uncommon winter resident. 

43. Querquedula discors. Blue-winged Teal. 

Rather commori in winter, exceedingly abundant during the migrations. 
"Accidental breeding at San Antonio and Spring Lake." (Cooke). 

44. Querquedula cyanoptera. Cinnamon Teal. 

Trans-Pecos region and southern plains, migrating southeastward to 
the southern Gulf coast (San Antonio Bay, southward). Breeds in 
the vicinity of Midland, Midland county, rarely. Two records for 
Waco, probably stragglers. 

45. Spatula clypeata. Shovellor. 

Common resident, breeding locally throughout the State. Very 
abundant in winter. 

46. Dafila acuta. Pintail. 

Abundant migrant and winter resident. 

47. Aix sponsa. Wood Duck. 

Resident, breeding locally throughout the State. Formerly abundant, 
now exceedingly rare. 

48. Marila americana. Redhead. 

Rare winter resident in Central and Eastern Texas; common in the 
southern and west-central sections of the State. 

49. Marila vallisneria. Canvasback. 

Winter resident along the coast. "Rather common in early winter in 
Tom Green and Concho counties." (Lloyd.) Rare in the vicinity of 
Waco and in Eastern Texas away from the coast. 



14 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



50. Mania nearctica. American Scaup Duck. 

This species is a rather rare straggler to the northern Gulf coast. 

51. Marila af finis. Lesser Scaup Duck. 

Tolerably common winter resident of Southern and Western Texas. 
Occurs only as a migrant in the vicinity of Waco. 

52. Marila collaris. Ring-necked Duck. 

Winter resident of Southern and Western Texas. Occurs only as a 
migrant in the northern and eastern sections of the State. 

53. Clansula americana. American Golden-eye. 

Rare winter visitor to the Gulf coast. 

54. Charitonetta albeola. Bufflehead. 

Rather rare winter resident. Abundant during the migrations. 

55. Harelda hyemalis. Old Squaw. 

Occasional visitor to the coast in winter. A mounted specimen in the 
Baylor Museum is said to have been collected near the mouth of the 
Rio Crande River in Cameron county. 

56. Nomonyx dominions. Masked Duck. 

Occasional on the Lower Rio Grande. Cooke thinks it probable that it 
breeds in the vicinity of Brownsville. 

57. Erismatnra jamaicensis. Ruddy Duck- 

Rare winter resident but abundant during the migrations. Cooke 
says that it breeds over much of the Mississippi Valley, from Texas to 
Minnesota, but I have no record of its breeding in this State. 

58. Chen hyperborea. Lesser Snow Goose. 

An abundant winter resident on the coast. 

59. Chen hyperborea nivalis. Greater Snow Goose. 

This goose winters on the coast but is by no means common. 

60. Chen caerulescens. Blue Goose. 

Common winter resident on the coast. 

61. Anser albifrons gambeli. American White-fronted Goose. 

Common winter resident on the coast. As a rule very few remain in 
the interior. 

62. Branta canadensis. Canada Goose. 

Abundant migrant and common winter resident. 

63. Branta canadensis hntchinsii. Hutchin's Goose. 

Common migrant. Winters in the marshes and lagoons near the 
coast. 



THEBIRDSOFTEXAS 15 



64. Branta nigricans. Black Brant. 

"Lloyd states that it was shot in Tom Green county in the fall of 1884" 
(Cooke). This species is evidently a very rare or irregular visitor, as 
this is the only definite record of its occurrence that I can find. 

65. Dendrocygna autumnalis. Black-bellied Tree Duck. 

Summer resident on the Lower Rio Grande (Fort Brown, Hidalgo, etc.) 
remaining from April to October. 

66. Dendrocygna fulva. Fulvous Tree Duck. 

Lower Rio Grande (Cameron and Hidalgo counties) straggling north- 
ward along the coast to Louisiana. Summer resident as far north as 
the sources of the Neuces. Lloyd recorded it as tolerably common in 
winter on the North Concho. 

67. Olor columbianus. Whistling Swan. 

Winters abundantly on Galveston and Corpus Christi bays and at 
other points along the coast. Migrates over the entire region east of 
the Pecos. 

68. Olor buccinator. Trumpeter Swan. 

Common winter resident of the coast. Lloyd recorded it as wintering 
in Western Texas. 

ORDER ODONTOGLOSSAE. Lamellirostral Grallatores. 
FAMILY PHOENICOPTERIDAE. Flamingoes. 

69. Phoenicopterus ruber. American Flamingo. 

In former years a frequent visitor, probably summer resident, of the 
coast counties. Recorded from Western Texas (Tom Green and Con- 
cho counties), in 1881 and 1882 by William Lloyd. 

ORDER HERODIONES. Herons, Storks, Ibises, Etc. 
FAMILY PLATALEIDAE. Spoonbills. 

70. Ajaia ajaja. Roseate Spoonbill. 

Eastern and Southern Texas, formerly breeding in abundance in the 
marshes and lagoons, in company with Ibises and Herons. Formerly 
bred near Houston (Nehrling) , in recent years reported from various 
localities along the coast (Refugio, Bee, Neuces counties, etc.) 



Ic BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



FAttHY IBEDIDAE Ibises. 

71. Guara alba. White Ibis. 

Gulf coast counties, breeding in the marshes and lagoons. 

72. Guara rubra. Scarlet Ibis. 

A tropical American species formerly straggling to the Gnlf coast 
None have been recorded in recent years. 

73. Plegadis guarauna. White-faced Glossy Ibis. 

An abundant summer resident of Southern Texas. Up to recent yeais, 
immense colonies nested in the lagoons and marshes in the region be- 
tween Refugio and Brownsville. 

FAMILY CKMUD AE. Storks aid Wood Ibises. 

74. Mycteria americana. Wood Ibis. 

Formerly an abundant species throughout the Eastern and South- 
eastern sections or the State, still common in some localities. At the 
end of the breeding season, in July and August, these birds straggle 
all over Texas. Recorded from the Red river, near Texarkana by 
Oberholser in 1S02. Common at Coon Lake, Bee county in 1905. 
(Strecker). 

75. Jabira mycteria. Jabiru: American Wood Stork. 

A tropical American species. One specimen was taken near Galves- 
ton, the only record for the United States. 

FAJULY ARDEIDAE, Renins. Bitterns, Etc. 

76. Botanms lentiginosus. American Bittern. 

Winter resident 

77. kobrychas exilis. Least Bittern. 

Summer resident of the entire State, breeding from the northern 
boundary south to Brownsville. Winters chiefly near the southern 
Gulf coast. 

78. Ardea herodias. Great Blue Heron. 

Abundant winter resident, especially in the coast counties. Summer 
resident, breeding locally throughout the State. 

79. Ardea herodias wardL Ward Heron 

Coast region of Texas. A fine breeding male in the Baylor Univer- 
sity collection was shot near Refugio in June, 1904 



THEBIRDSOFTEXAS 17 



80. Herodias egretta. American Egret. 

Formerly an abundant summer resident of the cypress swamps of 
Eastern and Southeastern Texas, now exceedingly rare. Winters in 
the southern coast counties. 

81. Egretta candidissima. Snowy Heron. 

Formerly an abundant species in the marshes and lagoons of South- 
ern and Eastern Texas, now almost exterminated. Capt. M. B. Davis, 
Secretary of the Texas Audubon Society, recently reported a small 
colony of fifteen pairs in a locality in Eastern Texas where the birds 
had formerly bred by the hundreds. They were not disturbed and it 
is reasonable to suppose that they are responsible for adding at least 
fifty more Snowy Egrets to our avian population. At the close of the 
breeding season in former years these birds would occasionally strag- 
gle westward into the central portion of the State (Waco and Marlin). 

82. Dichromanassa rufescens. Reddish Egret. 

Gulf coast counties, formerly abundant but now rather uncommon. 
Formerly reported from as far west as San Antonio. Reported by 
Sennett and Hancock as breeding in Laguna Madre and other locali- 
ties near Corpus Christi. Carroll reported it as rare summer resident 
of the coast region of Refugio county, and the writer observed quite a 
number of specimens in Matagorda county in 1908. 

83. Hydranassa tricolor ruficollis. Louisiana Heron. 

Rather uncommon summer resident of the coast counties. Dresser 
reported its occurence at San Antonio, but it is not mentioned from 
that locality by Attwater. Reported breeding near Houston by Nehrling 
and as an abundant breeder on the Lower Rio Grande by Merrill and 
Sennett. Recorded as common along the Red River north of Tex- 
arkana in 1902 by Oberholser (Howell, Birds of Arkansas). 

84. Florida caerulea. Little Blue Heron. 

Eastern half of the State, breeding in suitable localities, abundant. 
Recorded by Lloyd as a resident as far west as San Angelo. Breeds 
in several localities near Waco. I have seen thousands of these birds 
in the white phase of plumage in the marshes of Central Texas in late 
June and early July. 

85. Butorides virescens. Green Heron. 

The entire State, most abundant in the eastern half, breeding locally 
throughout its range. 



18 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



86. Nycticorax nycticorax naevius. Black-crowned Heron. 

Abundant migrant, winter resident of the coast counties, summer resi- 
dent of some portions of Eastern, Central and Southern Texas. 

87. Nyctanassa violaceus. Yellow-crowned Night Heron. 

Winter resident of the coast counties. Breeds in various localities 
in the eastern half of the State. In 1907, Mr. Howell discovered a 
small colony nesting at Gurley, Falls county, and together we paid it a 
visit. I should judge that there was about twenty pairs in the colony. 
We did not disturb them. Attwater records this species as a rare 
migrant at San Antonio. 

ORDER PALUDICOLAE. Cranes, Rails, Etc 
FAMILY GRUIDAE. Cranes. 

88. Gi'us americana. Whooping Crane. 

Formerly an abundant winter resident of Western and Southern Tex- 
as. Common during the migrations in the eastern and central sec- 
tions of the State. Now uncommon in winter, except in the middle 
west 

89. Gus canadensis. Little Brown Crane. 

Cooke in "Bird Migration in the Mississippi Valley," states that he was 
informed by Mr. Robert Ridgway that there was a specimen of this 
Crane from Texas in the National collection. Butcher records it from 
Laredo (June, 1868). 

90. Gras mexicana. Sandhill Crane. 

Migrant through the eastern half of the State. This species was 
formerly an abundant breeding bird in the lakes and marshes near 
the coast. It is doubtful whether it can now be considered a summer 
resident of any portion of Texas. Winters along the southern coast. 

FAMILY ARAMIDAE Courlans. 

91. Aramus giganteus. Limpkin. 

The "crying bird" occasionally straggles to the coast of Texas. 

FAMILY RALLIDAE. Rails, Gailinules, Coots, Etc. 

( c 'l Railus elegans. King Rail. 

Eastern half of the State,- rare migrant and winter visitant. (South 
Concho [Lloyd] , Corpus Christi [Sennett], Waco [Strecker]). 



THEBIRDSOFTEXAS 19 



93. Rallus crepitans saturatus. Louisiana Clapper Rail. 

Northern Gulf coast, probably breeding. 

94. Rallus crepitans caribaeus. Carribean Clapper Rail. 

A West Indian species found as far north on the Texas coast as Gal- 
veston, where it was first taken by Sennett. 

95. Rallus virginianus. Virginia Rail. 

Rare migrant. Reported from San Antonio by Dresser. Two speci- 
mens collected at Waco by Prade are now in the writer's private col- 
lection. This species is not mentioned in any of the local lists of 
Texas birds. 

96. Coturnicops jamaicensis. Black Rail. 

Lloyd found this species breeding at San Angelo from March to June, 
1884. 

97. Coturnicops noveboracensis. Yellow Rail. 

Heerman reported this species from Mitchell's Lake, near San An- 
tonio (Dresser). This is the only record that I can find. 

98. Porzana Carolina. Sora. 

Migrant and winter resident, reported as common by most observers. 

99. Ionornis martinica. Purple Gallinule. 

This species is not a common bird in Texas. Recorded as a rare mi- 
grant at San Antonio and not mentoned in any of the other local lists. 
A rather rare summer resident of McLennan and Falls counties, 
where it breeds in the marshes and lagoons in May. 

100. Gallinula galeata. Florida Gallinule. 

Resident, breeding locally from the northern boundry south to Browns- 
ville. Winters along the coast, in the marshes. Rare in the vicinity 
of Waco. 

101. Fulica americana. American Coot. 

Resident, breeding in favorable localities throughout the State. 

ORDER Limicolae. Shore Birds. 
FAMILY Phalaropodidae. Phalaropes. 

102. Steganopus tricolor. Wilson Phalarope. 

Migrant, apparently most abundant in spring. Rare near the Gulf 
coast. Rare at Waco. Abundant in Western Texas (Alpine, May 7-8.) 



20 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



FA.MIL Y Recurrirostridae. Ayocets aid Stilts. 

103. Reciurirostra americana, American Avocec. 

Winters on me coast, migrating through cue t::::t State. Kmcm c: 
breed in West-central and Western Texas Mason and Midland 

104. Himantopus mexicanus., Black-necked Sum 

Summer reside-: o: me :oast counties vB.ee, Refugio. Neuees. ere.) 
an: :: me southern plains region (Midland, Ector, counties, etc.) 

FAMILY Scolop-acidae, Snipes.. Sandpipers, etc 

105. Ph.ilohe.la minor. American Woodcock. 

Wince: resident in Ea.s:em Texas. occasionally as far west as San An- 
ge.o. Rare a: »'■» aoo. ins species cs sam to ce resident in me Big 
Tnlcke: o: Eastern Texas. 
1.1 Gailinago delicate.. Wilson Snipe. 

107. Macrorhamphus griseus. Dovdteuer. 

Repented from Coccus Chrisci and Hidalgo by Singley. Probably an 

1 ! 5. Macrorhamphus griseus scolopaceus.. Long-billed Do>riteuer. 

Migrant. Winters on tne Gem coast principally soutn ox Corpus 

100 Micro pal ama himantopus.. Sent Sandpiper. 

Common (?) daring the fall migration at San Angelo (Lloyd), rare at 

111 Pisobia maculate. Pectoral Sandpiper 

Migrant, especially abundant in spring 
111. Pisobia fuscicollis.. ^Vhite-rumped Sandpiper. 

Abundant migrant, common ".'-"inter resiient on one coast, ML'c *.%~n- 



112. Pisobia bairdi Baird Sandcicer. 

Uncom m on migrant. Reported in spring at San Angelo (Lloyd) and 

Aicne iScreeker . Not recorded In one lists o: Hancock. Chapman. 

113. Pisobia minutilla. Least San it: ice: 

Abundant migrant in the interior, winters in Southeastern Texas and 






THEBIRDSOFTEXAS 21 



114. Tringa canutus. Knot: Robin Snipe. 

Recorded from Corpus Christi by F. M. Chapman. 

115. Pelidna alpina pacifica. Red-backed Sandpiper. 

Winter resident on the Gulf Coast. Abundant in marshes of the 
Lower Rio Grande as late as May 16, according to Dr. Merrill. Re- 
ported by the majority of the Texas observers. Apparently rare in 
Western Texas. 

116. Ereuntes pusillus. Semipalmated Sandpiper. 

Common migrant. Winters regularly on the coast, rarely in the interior. 

117. Ereuntes occidentalis. Western Sandpiper. 

Migrant, reported from Tom Greene and Concho counties (Lloyd), 
Corpus Christi (Chapman) and the lower Rio Grande. Probably a 
rare winter resident around the delta of the Rio Grande. 

118. Calidris arenaria. Sanderling. 

Migrant. Common in spring along the coast, from Galveston to the 
mouth of the Rio Grande River. 

119. Limosa fedoa. Marbled God wit. 

Spring and fall migrant, not uncommon in Southeastern Texas (Cor- 
pus Christi, etc.) 

120. Totanus melanoleucus. Greater Yellow-legs. 

Abundant migrant. Common winter resident on the Gulf coast. A 
few winter in the interior. 

121. Totanus flavipes. Yellow-legs. 

Winter resident, most abundant in the coast counties, but remaining 
in favorable localities througout the state. 

122. Helodromas solitarius. Solitary Sandpiper. 

Common migrant. 

123. Catoptrophorus semipalmata inornata. Western Willet. 

Coast country, resident, more abundant in winter. Reported near 
Houston by Nehrling. Breeds in Refugio county (eggs in Baylor 
Museum from St. Marys), common at Corpus Christi (Hancock). 

124. Bartramia longicauda. Bartramian Sandpiper. 

Abundant migrant. August-September and April-May. 

125. Trygnites subruficollos. Buff-breasted Sandpiper. 

Rather rare migrant in the interior (Gainesville [Ragsdale] ). Abun- 
dant around Galveston (Singley), abundant on the lower Rio Grande 
in Cameron county (Sennett). 



22 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



126. Actitis macularia. Spotted Sandpiper. 

Abundant migrant. Rare summer resident in several sections of the 
State. The migrants usually go south through Waco about the last 
of October, returning in March. 

127. Numenius longirostris. Long-billed Curlew. 

Common migrant, very abundant in former years. Winters in the 
Rio Grands counties. I have observed them as late as May 27 in 
Midland and Jeff Davis counties. Formerly bred north of the Cana- 
dian, in the Panhandle. 

128. Numenius hudsonicus. Hudsonian Curlew. 

Rare migrant. Recorded from Waco (Strecker) and San Antonio 
(Dresser). 

129. Numenius borealis. Eskimo Curlew. 

Common migrant through extreme eastern section of the State. 

FAMILY Charadriidae, Plovers. 

130. Squatarola squatarola. Black-bellied Plover. 

Rather common migrant along the coast. (Galveston Island [Sing- 
ley] and Corpus Christi [Chapman] ). 

131. Charadrius dominicus. American Golden Plover. 

Common migrant, especially along the coast. Reported by the ma- 
jority of the observers. 

132. Oxyechus vociferus. Killdeer. 

Abundant resident throughout the State. 

133. Aegia itis semipalmata. Semipalmated Plover. 

Common migrant. Winters in the coast region. 

134. Aegialitis meloda circumcincta. Belted Piping Plover. 

Rare migrant throughout the eastern section of State. Recorded from 
Galveston Island by Singley. 

135. Aegialitis nivosa. Snowy Plover. 

Resident on the Gulf coast from Galveston southward. More abun- 
dant in winter than in summer. Eggs in Baylor museum from eastern 
Refugio county. 

136. Octhodromus wilsonius. Wilson's Plover. 

Resident along the coast, breeding abundantly on the islands and 
beaches. 



THE BIRDS OF TEXAS 23 



137. Podasocys montanus. Mountain Plover. 

Common migrant in Western Texas, a few remaining through the 
winter. Tolerably common in summer in the Trans-Pecos country, on 
the southern plains and in the Panhandle west of the edge of the 
plains. 

FAMILY Aphrizidae. Surf Birds and Turnstones. 

138. Arenaria morinella. Ruddy Turnstone. 

Rather uncommon winter resident on the coast. 

FAMILY Haematopodidae. Oystercatchers. 

139. Haematopus palliatus. American Oystercatcher. 

Summer resident of the coast. 

FAMILY Jacanidae. Jacanas. 

140. Jacana spinosa. Mexican Jacana. 

Valley of the Lower Rio Grande (Merrill). 

ORDER Gallinae. Gallinaceous Birds. 
FAMILY Tetraonidae. Grouse, Patridges, etc. 

141. Colinus virginianus. Bobwhite. 

Resident of the northeastern section of the State. 

142. Colinus virginianus texanus. Texan Bobwhite. 

Texas, except extreme northeastern and western sections of the State. 
Resident. 

143. Callipepla squamata. Scaled Partridge. 

Western Texas, south to the Rio Grande, east locally into the central 
part of the State. Rare in the Panhandle, on the edge of the 
plains (Armstrong county), resident. Rarely staggles into the eastern 
district (Bonham [Cooke]). 

144. Callipepla squamata castanogastris. Chestnut-bellied Scaled Partridge. 

Lower Rio Grande, north to Bee county, northwest to Eagle Pass. 
Resident. 

145. Lophorty gambelii. Gambel Partridge. 

El Paso County, in the mountain ranges, resident. 

146. Cyrtonyx montezumae mearnsi. Mearn's Partridge. 

Trans-Pecos region, in the Davis, Chisos and Guadalupe mountains, 
east to Tom Green and Concho counties (Lloyd) and Mason (Henry). 
Resident. 



24 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



147. Tympanuchus americanus. Prairie Hen. 

Formerly abundant on the prairies of northern Texas, but now exceed- 
ingly rare. 

148. Tympanuchus americanus attwateri. Att water Prairie Hen. 

Coast region of Eastern Texas, in the interior to Houston, etc. Resi- 
dent. 

149. Tympanuchus pallidicinctus. Lesser Prairie Hen. 

"Seen in October and November in Concho county, and also in winter 
on Middle Concho in Tom Green county. Abundant near Colorado 
City, on the Texas and Pacific Railroad. I believe this record extends 
the range to the southwest. Westward it was abundant to the foot- 
hills of the Davis Mountains. Said to have been driven from the 
Panhandle by the numerous prairie fires." (Lloyd, The Auk, Vol. IV, 
p. 187.) This was written more than twenty-five years ago but I have 
received specimens from the localities mentioned within the last three 
years. 

The Lesser Prairie Hen is resident along the foot of the plains in the 
Panhandle country, south of the Canadian. 

FAMILY Phasianidae. Pheasants, Turkeys, etc 

150. Meleagris gallopavo silvestris. Wild Turkey. 

North-eastern section of the State, resident, formerly abundant, now 
rare. 

151. Meleagris gallopavo merriami. Merriam Turkey. 

Occurs and probably breeds in the Guadalupe Mountains, (Bailey). 

152. Meleagris gallopavo intermedia. Rio Grande Turkey. 

Lowlands of Southern Texas (Lower Rio Grande, Live Oak County, 
San Antonio, etc.) west to Concho and Tom Green counties (Lloyd). 
Resident. 

FAMILY CRACIDAE. Curassows, Guans, Etc. 

153. Ortalis vetula mccallii. Chachalaca. 

Valley of the Lower Rio Grande (Cameron and Hidalgo counties). 
Resident. 

ORDER COLUMBAE. Pigeons. 

154. Columba fasciata. Band-tailed Pigeon. 

Abundant in the trans-Pecos region, in the Davis, Chisos and Guada- 
lupe Mountains. Probably resident. 



THEBIRDSOFTEXAS 25 



155. Columba flavirostris. Red-billed Pigeon. 

Lower Rio Grande (Cameron and Hidalgo counties, etc.), summer 
resident. 

156. Ectopistes migratorius. Passenger Pigeon. 

Formerly abundant migrant through Eastern Texas, now extinct. 
Singley's record for 1886 (Lee county) is the latest I can find. Lloyd 
mentions the occurrence of myriads of wild pigeons in Neuces canyon 
in winter. (This was written in 1882).* 

157. Zenaidura macroura carolinensis. Mourning Dove. 

Abundant resident throughout the State. 

158. Leptotila fulviventris brachyptera. White-fronted Dove. 

Valley of the Lower Rio Grande, resident from February to November. 

159. Melopelia leucoptera. White-winged Dove. 

Southern section of the State. Very abundant summer resident of 
the Lower Rio Grande counties, northwest to Laredo. Rare summer 
visitor at San Antonio. Breed at Cotulla, Carrizo Springs, etc. 

160. Columbigallina passerina terrestris. Ground Dove. 

Coast region of Eastern Texas, south almost to Corpus Christi. 

161. Columbigallina passerina pallescens. Mexican Ground Dove. 

Lower Rio Grande, north, rarely, to San Antonio and northwest to 
Eagie Pass. Summer resident. 

162. Scardafella inca. Inca Dove. 

Southern portion of the State. Some years ago Attwater recorded a 
single specimen from San Antonio, but in late years this dove is a reg- 
ular visitor there. In the winter of 1904 large numbers of these birds 
made their appearance at Waco, remaining until the following April. 
In November 1905 thev again appeared but in smaller numbers, this 
time remaining until the latter part of May and, as I am informed by 
reliable parties, nesting in North Waco. They are said to breed near 
San Antonio at the present time. Schutze (The Condor, VI, 172) 
records the Inca Dove as now common in Travis and Comal counties 
and in the vicinity of Bryan, breeding. 

*in recent years, great flocks of pigeons and doves have been reported from Southern Texas. In some journals, 
it was reported that in the Rio Grande Valley, great "droves" of white-winged doves were doing great damage to the 
crops. In September, 1911, flocks of wild pigeons were reported from the vicinity of San Angelo at Lavinia. The lat- 
ter, from the descriptions I received from there, were evidently a straggling flock of Band-tailed Pigeons. This leads 
me to wonder if most of Lloyd's "wild pigeons" did not belong to this species and not the Passenger Pigeon. In its 
proper place I speak of the invasion of Texas by the Inca Dove. 



26 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



ORDER RAPTORES. Birds of Prey. 
FAMILY CATHARTIDAE. American Vultures. 

163. Cathartes aura septentrionalis. Turkey Vulture. 

Abundant resident. Less common than Catharista urubu near 
the coast. 

164. Catharista urubu. Black Vulture. 

Abundant resident, especially on the Lower Rio Grande and in the 
coast region of Eastern Texas. Rare west of the middle section. 

FAMILY FALCONIDAE. Hawkes, Eagles, Falcons, Etc 

165. Elanoides forficatus. Swallow-tailed Kite. 

Formerly abundant summer resident, now rather rare, in the eastern 
and southern sections of the State. Always breeding in proximity to 
rivers and streams. In March 1891, the writer saw a flock of at least 
two hundred birds flying over a marsh in the eastern portion of Mc- 
Lennan county. 

166. Elanus leucurus. White-tailed Kite. 

Summer resident of the southern half of the State, nowhere abundant. 
Record from the Lower Rio Grande, Houston, San Angelo, Lee county, 
etc., as a breeding bird. 

167. Ictinia mississippiensis. Mississippi Kite. 

Resident in the extreme southern section. Summer resident in the 
Panhandle (Amarillo, etc.,) in Lee county (Singley), near Houston 
(Nehrling) and locally throughout the State. 

168. Circus hudsonius. Marsh Hawk. 

Resident, breeding locally. Very abundant in winter, especially in the 
western half of the State. 

169. Accipiter velox. Sharp-shinned Hawk. 

Common winter resident. May possibly breed in isolated sections. 

170. Accipiter cooperil Cooper's Hawk. 

Resident, bleeding locally, principally in the northern and northeast- 
ern sections. 

171. Accipiter atricapillus striatulus. Western Goshawk. 

Record from Western Texas by William Lloyd. 

172. Asturina plagiata. Mexican Goshawk. 

Occasional visitor to the southern section of the State. 



THEBIRDSOFTEXAS 27 



173. Parabuteo unicinctus harrisi. Harris Hawk. 

Southern half of the State, resident. Breeding as far north as San 
Antonio (Attwater), Corpus Christi (Hancock), Comal and Hays 
counties. Tolerably common in Bee and Refugio counties. 

174. Buteo borealis. Red-tailed Hawk. 

Resident east of the plains. Recorded as an abundant breeding bird 
on the Lower Rio Grande and in Eastern Texas. Rare in summer in 
the vicinity of Waco. 

175. Buteo borealis kriderii. Krider's Hawk. 

Rare resident east of the plains. Breeds as far south as Refugio coun- 
ty (Carroll). Red-tailed hawks from Refugio county in my county in 
my collection indicate that both borealis and kriderii occur there 
during the breeding season. I do not think much of kriderii as a 
variety. 

176. Buteo borealis calurus. Western Red-tail. 

Western half of the State, resident. 

177. Bueto borealis harlani. Harlan Hawk. 

Resident in the eastern and Gulf coast sections. Recorded from 
Brownsville (Merrill), Gainesville (Ragsdale), etc. One record from 
Waco. 

178. Bueto lineatus alleni. Florida Red-shouldered Hawk. 

The eastern and central sections of the State, resident. South in 
winter to the Rio Grande. According to Carroll does not breed as far 
south as Refugio. Most abundant breeding hawk from Waco to Gid- 
dings in the river bottoms. 

179. Buteo lineatus elegans. Red-bellied Hawk. 

Occasionally straggles into the western section of the State. 

180. Buteo abbreviate. Zone-tailed Hawk. 

Southern Texas, breeding north (rarely) to Comal and Hays counties. 
Recorded by Lloyd as a fall visitant to the western part of the State. 

181. Buteo albicaudatus sennettii. Sennett White-tailed Hawk. 

Rio Grande Vallev, resident, not uncommon as far north as Bee and 
Refugio counties. 

182. Buteo swainsonii. Swainson's Hawk. 

Western half of the State, resident. Especially abundant on the 
southern plains and in the Davis Mountain region. East in winter to 
Waco and southeastward to the Gulf coast. 



28 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 




183. Buteo platypterus. Broad-winged Hawk. 

Winter resident from the northern border south to the Rio Grande. 

184. Urubitinga anthracina. Mexican Black Hawk. 

Occasional along the Valley of the Lower Rio Grande. 

185. Archibuteo ferrogineus. Ferruginous Rough-leg. 

Western half of the State, east to Bexar and Comal counties, etc. 
Breeds abundantly in the Panhandle (Potter and Armstrong counties). 

186. Aquila chrysaetos. Golden Eagle. 

Western half of the State, resident in the mountains of the trans- 
Pecos region and in the canyons of the Panhandle. Straggles east to 
Waco, Refugio, etc. Hancock's Corpus Christi record is based on the 
Bald Eagle which breeds commonly in that section. 

187. Thrasaetos harpyia. Harpy Eagle. 

Delta of the Rio Grande, one specimen, only record from North Amer- 
ica (Oswald, Am. Nat, 1875, p. 151.) 

188. Haliaeetus leucocephalus. Bald Eagle. 

Southern and Eastern Texas, resident, locally distributed. Breeds in 
Neuces, San Patricio, Bee, Refugio, Goliad, and other counties in the 
southeastern section, this region seeming to be the center of their dis- 
tribution in Texas. Recorded as common resident in Western Texas 
by Lloyd, although the present writer has never observed it in that 
section. 

189. Falco mexicanus. Prairie Falcon. 

Western Texas, resident along the edge of the plains in the Panhandle, 
on the southern plains and in the trans-Pecos region. I am a little 
doubtful of Nehrling's Houston breeding record. 

190. Falco peregrinus anatnnL Duck Hawk. 

Winter visitor, not common. May possibly be resident west of the 
edge of the plains. 

191. Falco colnmbarius. Pigeon Hawk. 

Winter resident, not common. 

192. Falco richardsonil Richardson Merlin. 

Rare winter resident. Recorded from Refugio county by CarrolL 

193. Falco hsco-caemlescens. ApJomado Falcon. 

Lower Rio Grande Valley (Cameron and Hidalgo counties) westward 
to El Paso. In the west, breeds north on the plains as far as Midland 
and Ector counties. Summer resident 



THEBIRDSOFTEXAS 29 



194. Falco sparverius. American Sparrow Hawk. 

Eastern half of the State, breeding locally as far south as the east- 
central section. Winters throughout its range. Abundant. 

195. Falco sparverius phalaena. Desert Sparrow Hawk. 

Western Texas, probably breeding in favorable localities. 

196. Polyborus cheriway. Audubon Caracara. 

Southern section of the State. Breeds, rarely, as far north as Waco. 
Resident. 

197. Pandion haliaetus carolinensis. American Osprey. 

Winter resident. Said to breed in certain localities on the coast. 

FAMILY Strigidae. Barn Owls. 

198. Aluco pratincola. American Barn Owl. 

Common resident, distributed throughout the State. 

FAMILY Bubonidae. Horned Owls, etc. 

199. Asio wilsonianus. American Long-eared Owl. 

Resident, breeding commonly in wooded regions. 

200. Asio flammeus. Short-eared Owl. 

Winter resident, common. 

201. Strix varia alleni. Florida Barred Owl. 

Coast region of Eastern Texas, west to Waco. Typical specimens from 
Orange county in the writer's collection. Some of those from Waco 
are not very typical. 

202. Strix varia helveolum. Texan Barred Owl. 

Type from Corpus Christi. Lower Rio Grande Valley north to south 
central section of the State. Resident. 

203. Strix occidentals Spotted Owl. 

Occurs and probably breeds in the Guadalupe Mountains. (Bailey.) 

204. Otus asio. Screech Owl. 

Northeastern Texas, resident. 

205. Otus asio mccallii. Texan Screech Owl. 

Central, Southern and Western Texas, resident. Specimens from 
Waco are fairly typical. 

206. Otus flammeolus. Flammulated Screech owl. 

Occurs and probably breeds in the Guadalupe Mountains (Bailey). 



30 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



207. Bubo virginianus. Great Horned Owl. 

Eastern half of the State, resident. 

208. Bubo virginianus pallescens. Western Horned Owl. 

Type from San Antonio. Western and Southern Texas, resident. 

209. Nyctea nyctea. Snowy Owl. 

This northern species rarely straggles into Texas during severe winters. 
Recorded from San Antonio by Dresser. 

210. Speotyto cunicularia hypogaea. Burrowing Owl. 

Texas with the exception of the Eastern and Northern wooded 
districts. Especially abundant on the plains. Common in the 
mountain districts. Not uncommon in the vicinity of Waco, abundant 
near San Antonio, only in winter at Refugio. 

211. Glaucidium phalaenoides. Ferruginous Pygmy Owl. 

Lower Rio Grande, resident. Not common. 

212. Micropallas whitneyi. Elf Owl. 

Lower Rio Grande, westward along the border. Resident; range not 
well known. 

ORDER Psittaci. Parrots, Nacaws and Paroquets. 
FAMILY Psittacidae. Parrots and Paroquets. 

213. Conuropsis carolinensis. Carolina Paroquet. 

Formerly abundant in wooded districts of Eastern Texas. Now 
extinct. 

ORDER Coccyges. Cuckoos, etc. 

FANILY Cuculidae. Cuckoos, Anis, etc. 

214. Crotophaga sulcirostris. Groove-billed Ani. 

Lower Rio Grande Valley, summer resident. Recorded as a fall visitor 
to Tom Green and Concho counties by Lloyd (Oct. 1885-1886). 

215. Geococcyx californianus. Roadrunner. 

Distributed over the greater portion of the State except the eastern 
wooded district. Rather common as far east as Waco. Especially 
abundant in Western and Southern Texas and in some portions of the 
Panhandle. 

216. Coccyzus americanus. Yellow-billed Cuckoo. 

Summer resident of the eastern half of the State. 



THEBIRDSOFTEXAS 31 



217. Coccyzus americanus occidentalis. California Cuckoo. 

Western Texas, summer resident, not very common. 

218. Coccyzus erythrophthalmus. Black-billed Cuckoo. 

Rare migrant. Occurs as far west as San Angelo. (Lloyd) 

FAMILY Trogonidae. Trogons. 

219. Trogon ambiguus. Coppery-tailed Trogon. 

Occasional on the Lower Rio Grande (Ringgold Barracks and Las 
Cuevas [Merrill] ). 

FANILY Alcedinidae, Kingfishers. 

220. Ceryle alcyon. Belted Kingfisher. 

Permanent resident, more abundant in summer. Found along water- 
courses throughout the State. 

221. Ceryle americana septentrionalis. Texan Kingfisher. 

Tolerably common as far north as Bexar, Comal and Hays counties. 
Recorded from Corpus Christi by Hancock but not recorded from other 
localities in the same vicinity. 

222. Ceryle torquata. Ringed Kingfisher. 

Casual on the Lower Rio Grande (one specimen in the Philadelphia 
Academy of Sciences shot near Laredo by Mr. Geo. B. Benners.) 

ORDER Pici. Woodpeckers, Wrynecks, etc. 
FANILY Picidae. Woodpeckers. 

223. Campephilus principalis. Ivory-billed Woodpecker. 

Formerly an inhabitant of the thickly wooded portions of the Eastern 
and Southern sections of the State, (Harris, Montgomery, Jasper 
counties, etc.) now almost extinct. 

224. Dryobates villosus auduboni. Southern Hairy Woodpecker. 

Eastern Texas, abundant winter visitor in the vicinity of Waco. It is 
not mentioned in Carroll's list of Refugio county birds nor Attwater's 
list of the birds of San Antonio. Recorded as breeding in Lee county 
by Singley. It is an abundant bird in summer in Smith and Hender- 
son counties. 

225. Dryobates villosus hyloscopus. Cabanis Woodpecker. 

Occurs and probably breeds in the Guadalupe Mountains (Bailey, 
Biological Survey of Texas.) 



32 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



226. Dryobates pnbescens. Southern Downy Woodpecker. 

Eastern Texas, common in winter in the vicinity of Waco. One speci- 
men recorded from San Antonio and one from the Middle Concho 
River, these localities indicating in all probability its Southern and 
Western migration ranges in the State. Recorded as a breeding bird 
in Singley's Lee county list but I am a little doubtful of its status as 
such. 

227. Dryobates borealis. Red-cockaded Woodpecker. 

Pine forests and swamp regions of Eastern Texas (Houston, Hemp- 
stead, Nacogdoches, etc) . Resident. 

228. Dryobates scalaris bairdi. Texan Woodpecker. 

Southern and Western Texas, north on the mesquite plains of middle 
Texas to the northern boundary and along the valley of the Canadian 
River across the Panhandle. East, locally, as far as Waco, where it is 
an uncommon breeding bird. 

229. Sphyrapicus varius. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. 

A common migrant through the eastern half of the State. A few 
winter in the vicinity of Waco. 

230. Sphyrapicus varius nuchalis. Red-naped Sapsucker. 

Recorded as a rare winter resident in the vicinity of Fort Davis by 
Lloyd. 

231. Sphyrapicus ruber thyroideus. Williamson Sapsucker. 

Irregular winter visitant to the western counties. Collected in Tom 
Green, Concho and Uvalde counties by Lloyd. 

232. Phloeotomus pileatus. Pileated "Woodpecker. 

Eastern Texas, resident. A few are still found in the thick Tehua- 
cana bottoms, nine miles from Waco, but the species seems destined 
to follow the way of the Ivory-bill. 

233. Meianerpes erythrocephalus. Red-headed Woodpecker. 

Northern and Eastern Texas, more abundant in summer than in 
winter. Recorded as a rare winter resident of Refugio county by 
Carroll. Said to be exceedingly rare in the vicinity of San Antonio 
by Beckham but Attwater does not record it from that locality at all. 
Most abundant woodpecker at Waco. In the Paloduro section of the 
Panhandle, it is not uncommon during the summer months, following 
up the river valleys almost to the New Mexican line. 



THEBIRDSOFTEXAS 33 



234. Nelanerpes formicivorus. Ant-eating Woodpecker. 

Trans-Pecos Texas, common in the Davis, Chisos, and Gaudalupe 
Mountains. Resident. 

235. Asyndesmus torquatus. Lewis Woodpecker. 

Recorded from San Angelo by Lloyd. Bailey records a single specimen 
from the Davis Mountains. 
236 Centurus carolinus. Red-bellied Woodpecker. 

Eastern section of the State, south to Victoria and Calhoun counties; 
resident; more abundant in winter than summer. Two stragglers 
were noted at Corpus Christi by Beckham. Abundant resident in the 
San Angelo country but not appearing to go west of the Concho, ac- 
cording to Lloyd. 

237. Centurus aurifrons. Golden-fronted Woodpecker. 

Southern Texas, resident from San Antonio southward. According to 
Lloyd it ranges west to the Castle Mountains. Rather abundant in 
the coast counties from Refugio south to the mouth of the Rio Grande. 

238. Colaptes auratus. Southern Flicker. 

Common resident of the eastern section of the State. Winter resident 
at Waco and San Antonio, but only a few records from the southern 
coast region (Corpus Christi [Chapman], Refugio one specimen, 
[Carroll] ). In some manuscript notes of J. A. Singley, now in the 
writer's possession, mention is made of the breeding of this species 
near Giddings, Lee county, in recent years. 

239. Colaptes cafer collaris. Red-shafted Flicker. 

Irregular migrant, some years straggling almost to the eastern border 
of the State. Common at Waco about every three or four years. 
Common at San Antonio and San Angelo. A few Waco specimens 
are typical, but the majority are hybrids of this and C. auratus. 
Probably breeding in the Davis and Guadalupe Mountains. 

ORDER Macrochires. Goatsuckers, Swifts, etc. 

FAMILY Caprimulgidae. Goatsuckers. 

240. Antrostomus carolinensis. Chuck-will's-widow. 

Eastern section of the State, summer resident as far south as Neuces 
county. West to Waco and San Antonio, breeding in both localities. 
Arrives from the south about the middle of March. Carroll thinks 
that a few winter in Refugio county. 



34 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



241. Antrostomus vociferus. Whip-poor-will. 

Migrant through the eastern half of the State, west to Waco and San 
Antonio, reported rare from both localities. 

242. Antrostomus vociferus macromystax. Stephen's Whip-poor-will. 

Common in the Chisos Mountains and noted also in the Gaudalupe 
range. (Oberholser, The Auk, XX, p. 300.) 

243. Phalaenoptilus nuttallii. Poor-will. 

The Texan range of this subspecies is very imperfectly known. 
Attwater records it as a common summer resident in the vicin- 
nity of San Antonio. Cooke records it from Mason and San 
Angelo. Butcher observed it at Laredo from September to Feb- 
ruary. 

244. Phalaenoptilus nuttallii nitidus. Frosted Poor- will. 

Western Texas, east during the migrations to San Antonio. The types 
were from Neuces River bottoms. 

245. Nyctidromus albicollis merrillii. Paraque. 

Lower Rio Grande (Cameron and Hidalgo counties) and coast prairie 
north to Refugio county where it is rare. Summer resident. 

246. Chordeiles virginianus. Nighthawk. 

Eastern section of the State during the migrations. Summer resident 
of the extreme northeastern section. Recorded as a migrant at San 
Antonio. 

247. Chordeiles virginianus chapmani. Florida Nighthawk. 

Coast region from Jefferson to Corpus Christi, summer resident. 

248. Chordeiles virginianus henryi. Western Nighthawk. 

Abundant migrant and common summer resident as far east as Waco 
and San Antonio. Carroll's records of this species from Refugio 
county are not altogether reliable as birds from that locality, collected 
by the writer, are clearly referable to chapmani. 

249. Chordeiles scutipennis texensis. Texan Nighthawk. 

Southern and Western Texas. North in the coast prairie re- 
gion to Bee and Refugio counties. Common on the Lower Rio 
Grande and west of the Pecos. Rachford's record of the breed- 
ing of this species at Jefferson, Texas, (Davie, "Nests and Eggs of 
North American Birds," fifth edition, p. 287) I do not consider 
reliable. 



THEBIRDSOFTEXAS 35 



FAMILY Micropodidae. Swifts. 

250. Chaetura pelagica. Chimney Swift. 

Migrant in Eastern Texas, in the spring arriving in March. On the 
journey south they pass through about the 20th of September. Rather 
common at Waco. Reported as rare at San Antonio by Attwater. 

251. Aeronautes melanoleucus. White-throated Swift. 

Of regular occurence in the Davis, Chisos and Guadalupe Monutains. 

(Oberholser, The Auk, XIX, p. 300.) 

FAMILY Trochilidae. Hummingbirds. 

» 

252. Cyanolaemus clemenciae. Blue-throated Hummingbird. 

Common in the higher parts of the Chisos Mountains, Brewster county 
(Oberholser, The Auk, XIX, p. 300.) 

253. Archilocus colubris. Ruby-throated Hummingbird. 

Eastern half of the State, summer resident. Waco (Strecker). Breeds 
commonly as far west as Tom Green county (Cooke, "Bird Migration 
in Mississippi Valley," from Lloyd's notes.) San Antonio, breeding, 
(Dresser and Attwater). Summer resident as far south as Beeville 
and Refugio. No breeding record for the Brownsville country. Ar- 
rives in March, in some years does not migrate south before the mid- 
dle of November. 

254. Archilocus alexandri. Black-chinned Hummingbird. 

Western section of the State, east during the migrations to Waco 
(Strecker) and Refugio (Carroll). Breeds in the vicinity of San An- 
tonio (Attwater). A common summer resident of the trans-Pecos re- 
gion and the southern plains (Midland). 

255. Selasphorus platycercus. Broad-tailed Hummingbird. 

Common summer resident of the Davis, Chisos and Guadalupe Moun- 
tains. 
(Bailey, Biological Survey of Texas.) 

256. Selasphorus rufus. Rufous Hummingbird. 

Occurs and probably breeds in the Guadalupe Mountain Transition. 
(Bailey, Biological Survey of Texas.) 



36 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



257. Stellula calliope. Calliope Hummingbird. 

Heloise's Hummingbird (Atthis heloisa) was formerly included in 
the A. 0. U. Check-List on the strength of the report of the capture of 
a supposed female specimen at El Paso in 1851 (Baird, Brewer and Ridg- 
way, Land Birds, Vol. II, p. 465, etc.). Atthis heloisa has since been 
dropped from the list of North American Birds as the specimen in 
question proves to be an immature example of Stellula calliope. 
(See Ridgway, "The Hummingbirds.") So far as I know, this is the 
only Texas record for this species. 

258. Calothorax lucifer. Lucifer Hummingbird. 

Summer resident of the Chisos Mountains (Oberholser, The Auk, XIX, 
p. 300.) 

259. Amazilis tzacatl. Reiffer Hummingbird. 

Casual on the Lower Rio Grande. Specimen recorded from the vicini- 
ty of Fort Brown by Dr. J. C. Merrill. 

260. Amazilis cerniventris chalconota. Buff-bellied Hummingbird. 

Lower Rio Grande Valley. Summer resident in the vicinity of Browns- 
ville. I can find no records other than those from Cameron 
county. 

ORDER Passeres. Perching Birds. 
FAMILY Tyrannidae. Flycatchers. 

261. Nuscivora forficata. Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. 

Texas, distributed over the greater portion of the State. Summer 
resident. In the east-central section, where it is abundant, it arrives 
from the south from the middle to the 25th of March. Usually about 
the 15th, small flocks of from four to a dozen are first observed, the 
bulk not arriving for several days after the vanguard appears. During 
the breeding season each pair selects some particular grove or large 
solitary tree and holds it against all comers. At the close of the nesting 
season the birds again form into small flocks, usually family groups. 
They migrate southward in flocks of from a dozen to several hundred 
birds. In 1898, 1 witnessed a flight of not less than five hundred at one 
time.They were congregated in a waste field lying between two strips 
of woodland and after holding a noisy conclave lasting probably half an 
hour, flew toward the south in a scattered body. 



THEBIRDSOFTEXAS 37 



262. Tyrannus tyrannus. Kingbird. 

Eastern section of the State, common summer resident. No breeding 
records from Corpus Christi south to the Rio Grande. Reported 
as a migrant at San Antonio, breeds at Houston (Nehrling) and 
Refugio (Carroll). Rather common resident in the neighborhood of 
Waco. 

263. Tyrannus melancholicus conchii. Couch's Kingbird. 

Rare summer resident on the Lower Rio Grande. Reported as breed- 
ing at Lomita ranch (Sennett) . 

264. Tyrannus verticalis. Arkansas Kingbird. 

Western section of the State, east during the migrations to San Angelo 
and San Antonio. Abundant summer resident of the Panhandle 
and the southern plains, and of the mountains west and south of the 
Pecos. 

265. Tyrannus vociferans. Cassin's Kingbird. 

Trans-Pecos region, summer resident. This species was an abundant 
migrant at Paisano and in Du Bois canyon, in the Davis Mountains, 
during the last three days of April, 1905. 

266. Pitangus sulphuratus derbianus. Derby Flycatcher. 

Lower Rio Grande (Cameron and Hidalgo counties), rare summer 
resident. 

267. Myiarchus crinitus. Crested Flycatcher. 

Eastern half of the State, breeding south to Refugio and west to San 
Angelo. Very abundant in the extreme eastern section and as far 
west as Waco. 

268. Myiarchus mexicanus. Mexican Crested Flycatcher. 

Lower Rio Grande (Cameron and Hidalgo counties), common summer 
resident. 

269. Myiarchus cinerascens. Ash-throated Flycatcher. 

Western half of the State, summer resident. Reported as breeding at 
San Antonio, Mason, San Angelo and Bonham. I am inclined to 
doubt the Bonham breeding record. In 1905, we found this species 
very abundant in the Davis mountains in Brewster county. Hun- 
dreds were passing through during the latter part of April, and 
many remained to breed. This flycatcher is a rare fall visitor at 
Waco. 



38 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



270. Sayornis phoebe. Phoebe. 

Eastern half of the State, breeding west to the San Angelo country. 
Summer resident of the extreme eastern and northeastern sections 
but rather locally distributed. Reported as migrant and winter resident 
at Laredo, Houston, Boerne, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Refugio and 
Waco. Attwater states that it breeds in caves in the hilly country 
northwest of San Antonio. 

271. Saynrnis nigricans. Black Phoebe. 

Western section of the State, recorded as breeding at Spring 
Creek, Tom Green County, and at San Angelo (Lloyd). I have 
observed this species in May in the southern plains region (Midland 
county), but records of its occurance in Texas are few and far between. 

272. Sayornis saya. Say's Phoebe. 

Winter resident, ranging east to the Colorado (Lloyd). Recorded as 
migrant and winter resident in the following localities: Fort Brown 
(Merrill), Lomita (Sennett), Boerne (Brown), San Angelo (Lloyd), 
Clay County (Ragsdale), Corpus Christi and Beeville (Beckham), San 
Antonio (Dresser and Attwater). A rather common summer resident 
of the Panhandle region west of the foot of the plains. 

273. Nuttallornis borealis. Olive-sided Flycatcher. 

Migrant, not very abundant. Recorded from Fort Brown, Lomita, 
Gainesville, San Antonio, Concho and Tom Green counties. Guada- 
lupe and Chisos Mountains, probably breeding, (Bailey). 

274. Myiochanes virens. Wood Pewee. 

Eastern half of the State, west to San Angelo, summer resident. 
Breeding at San Antonio, Houston, Waco, San Angelo, on the Lower 
Rio Grande, etc. Migrating birds recorded from Bonham, Refugio, 
Gainsville and Mason. Probably breeds throughout its Texas range. 

275. Myiochanes richardsonii. Western Wood Pewee. 

Migrant, occurring as far east as San Angelo, San Antonio, etc. 
Probably abundant in the Trans-Pecos region during the migrations. 

276. Empidonax flaviventris. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. 

Migrant through Eastern Texas. Recorded from Gainesville (Rags- 
dale) , San Antonio (Dresser), Laredo (Butcher) and Lomita (Sennett). 

277. Empidonax difficilis. Western Flycatcher. 

Summer resident in Chisos and Guadalupe Mountains (Bailey and 
Oberholser). 



THEBIRDSOFTEXAS 39 



278. Empidonax virescens. Green-crested Flycatcher. 

Eastern section of the State, summer resident, breeding south to 
Houston and San Antonio. Recorded from Fort Clark as late as May 
15 (Ridgway). Rather common in Anderson and Smith counties in 
summer. 

279. Empidonax traillii. Traill's Flycatcher. 

The range of this western species extends as far east as Tom Green 
and Concho counties, where Lloyd recorded it as a tolerably common 
breeder. The majority of the observers seem to have overlooked this 
Flycatcher. 

280. Empidonax minimus. Least Flycatcher. 

Eastern section, west to San Angelo. Lloyd records it as possibly 
breeding at San Angelo, Cooke at Bonham. Recorded from Kendall 
and Bexar counties in April and May. Winters south of the Mexican 
border. 

281. Empidonax hammondii. Hammond's Flycatcher. 

Western Texas, east during the migrations to Tom Green and Concho 
counties. Rather abundant in Brewster county in April. 

282. Empidonax wrightii. Wright's Flycatcher. 

The records for this species are exceedingly few. Ridgway records 
specimens in the U. S. Nat. Museum collection from El Paso county. 
Tom Green county, in autumn (Lloyd). Rare migrant in the eastern 
Davis Mountains in April. 

283. Pyocephalus rubineus mexicanus. Vermilion Flycatcher. 

Southern portion of the State, north to Bexar and Comal counties, 
where it is a rather common summer resident. Resident on the lower 
Rio Grande, according to Merrill. In the coast region occurring 
almost as far north as Corpus Christi. 

284. Camptostoma imberbe. Beardless Flycatcher. 

Casual on the Lower Rio Grande (Lomita, Hidalgo, Rio Crono 
Grancano [Ridgway]). 

FAMILY Alaudidae. Larks. 

285. Otocoris alpestris leucolaema. Desert Horned Lark. 

Plains and trans-Pecos regions of Texas, southeast in winter to San 
Angelo and Del Rio: breeding from the northern boundary of the Pan- 
handle south to Fort Davis, etc. East to Henrietta. 



40 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



286. Otocoris alpestris praticola. Prairie Homed Lark 

Eastern and Central Texas in winter, south as far as San Antonio. 
Rather irregular in its appearance at Waco, very rare some winters. 

287. Otocoris alpestris siraudi. Texas Horned Lark. 

Coast prairie region from Galveston south to Brownsville. Resident 

288. Otocoris alpestris occidentalis. Montezuma Horned Lark. 

Winter resident in the western section of the State. Oberholser ("A 
review of the Horned Larks of the Genus Otocoris" Proc. U. S. Nat 
Museum, XXIV, 1902, p. 857.) records examples from Marfa, Laredo, 
Sierra Blanca, Henrietta and Comanche. 

FAMILY Corvidae. Crows. Jays, etc. 

289. Pica pica hudsonica. American Magpie. 

Occasionally straggles into Western Texas, in the mountains. (McCall, 
Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phila, 1851, 217, "Western Texas, lat 59 degrees, 
15 min., Nov.") Ridgway ("Birds of North and Middle America") in- 
cludes Texas in the range of this species. 

290. Cyanocitta cristata. Blue Jay. 

Eastern section of the State. Very abundant in East-central Texas 
(Bosque, Falls, McLennan, Navarro counties). In Southwestern 
Texas recorded from Leon Springs, San Antonio, Corpus Christi. Ac- 
cording to Lloyd its western limit in the State "seems to be near the 
mouth of the main Concho, where it is tolerably common" (The Auk, 
IV, 290.) Eastland (Hasbrouck). Specimens from the coast regions 
and San Antonio were formerly referred to the variety florincola. 
While not typical cristata, Ridgway in "The Birds of North and Mid- 
dle America" now refers to these under the head of that subspecies, 
restricting florincola to the peninsula of Florida. 

291. Cyanocitta stelleri diademata. Long-crested Jay. 

Of tolerably common occurance in the Guadalupe and Davis Moun- 
tains (Oberholser, The Auk, XIX, p. 300.) 

292. Aphelocoma woodhouseL Woodhouse Jay. 

Trans-Pecos country, east to the Davis Mountains (Ridgway). Lloyd's 
record of the occurence of this species in Tom Green and Concho 
counties, where it "is resident wherever there is shin-oak, at the heads 
of nearly all the creeks," refers to the species now known as A. texana 
Ridgway. 



THEBIRDSOFTEXAS 41 



293. Aphelocoma cyanotis. Blue-eared Jay. 

Southern portion of the trans-Pecos region (Paisano, Brewster coun- 
ty,) across the Edwards Plateau to Kerr and Sonora counties. 
(Ridgway.) 

294. Aphelocoma texana. Texan Jay. 

Southwestern Texas, from Concho and Kerr counties west to the Davis 
Mountains (Alpine, Fort Davis, Paisano, etc. [Ridgway.]) In the two 
weeks the writer and his assistants spent at Piasano in 1905, this was 
the only species of Jay secured by us, although A. cyanotis is also 
supposed to occur there. We found A. texana nesting in scrub-oaks 
in secluded canyons. 

295. Aphelocoma sieberii couchii. Couch Jay. 

Chisos Mountains, Brewster county. (Bailey.) 

296. Xanthoura luxuosa glaucescens. Rio Grande Green Jay. 

Lower Rio Grande north as far as Laredo. Recorded from Browns- 
ville, Hidalgo, Lomita, etc. 

297. Corvus corax sinuatus. American Raven. 

Western Texas, on the plains, east in winter to San Antonio 
(Dresser). "At the mouth of Devils's River and at the head of the 
Rio Grande, in Texas, immense numbers pass the winter and dis- 
perse again in the spring. In Western Texas its nest has been 
taken by Mr. Lloyd." (Cooke, "Bird Migration in the Mississippi 
Valley.") 

298. Corvus cryptoleucus. White-necked Raven. 

Abundant resident in Western Texas, especially on the southern plains 
and west of the Pecos. In 1904, Mr. J. M. Carroll and the writer 
found hundreds of nests in Midland, Pecos, Ward and Jeff Davis 
counties. The birds were rather more abundant on the plains than 
they were in the mountains. In 1905, we observed large numbers in 
Brewster county. Not common on the northern plains (Panhandle) 
as far as my observations go. "Resident as far east as Tom Green 

and Concho counties where it is abundant at all times 

The bulk retire in fall in large flocks down the Pecos and Devil's 
Rivers, where they winter by thousands." (Lloyd.) Singley 
mentions a colony on the military reservation at Rio Grande 
City. 



42 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



299. Corvus brachyrhynchos. American Crow. 

Eastern and coast prairie districts (Galveston, Navarro, and Mc- 
Lennan counties, etc.) Crows from Middle Texas are interme- 
diate between this form and the subsperies hesperis, Ridgway 
referring to the majority of Texas specimens under that name. 
Resident. 

300. Corvus brachyrhynchos hesperis. Western Crow. 

The crows of Western and Southwestern Texas are referred to this 
form by Ridgway. In the synonymy of hesperis, he includes the fol- 
lowing records; San Antonio (Dresser), McClellan Creek (McCauley), 
Concho county, breeding (Lloyd), Leon Springs, March, (Beckham), 
Eastland County (Hasbrouck), Boerne (Brown). 

301. Cyanocephalus cyanocephalus. Pinon Jay: Blue Crow. 

Recorded as tolerably common in the Guadalupe Mountains by Bailey 
(See The Auk, 1902, XIX, 300, and North American Fauna, No. 25, 
Biological Survey of Texas.) 

FAMILY ICTERIDAE. Blackbirds, Orioles, Etc 

302. Dolichonyx oryzivorus. Bobolink. 

Migrant through Eastern and Middle Texas. Either rare in most 
localities or else has been overlooked by the majority of the ob- 
servers. Not uncommon in the vicinity of San Angelo in Octo- 
ber (Lloyd). Rather rare migrant at Waco (October 2-5, April 30, 
May 1-3.) 

303. Molothrus ater. Cowbird 

Eastern and northern sections of the State, breeding south to Houston 
(?) (Nehrling). Resident. Abundant winter resident from San An- 
tonio southward. Ridgway refers to this species as breeding in the 
vicinity of San Antonio but Attwater refers to it only as a winter bird. 

304. Molothrus ater obscurus. Dwarf Cowbird. 

Summer resident of the southern section of the State, west into the 
trans-Pecos counties. North as far as Houston and San Antonio. 
Ridgway records it from Lampasas county. 

305. Callothms robustus. Red-eyed Cowbird. 

Southern section of the State, breeding north to San Antonio. Sum- 
mer resident. 



THEBIRDSOFTEXAS 43 



306. Xanthocepbalus xanthocephalus. Yellow-headed Blackbird. 

Abundant migrant, through the greater portion of the State. Winter 
resident in the Lower Rio Grande valley and certain portions of trans- 
Pecos Texas. May breed in some localities, but I have no authentic 
record of its nesting in the State. 

307. Agelaius phoeniceus. Red- Winged Blackbird. 

Abundant migrant and winter resident. Summer resident in Central 
Texas (South to San Antonio [?]) breeding north to the northern 
boundary. 

308. Agelaius phoeniceus floridanus. Florida Red-wing. 

Coast region south to Galveston, summer resident. I hardly think it 
probable that these birds winter in their summer quarters but doubt- 
less go further south into the Lower Rio Grande Valley. 

309. Agelaius phoeniceus fortis. Northern Red-wing. 

Ridgway records this subspecies from El Paso in February. (Prob- 
ably based on skins in the National Museum.) 

310. Agelaius phoeniceus neutralis. San Diego Red-wing. 

According to Ridgway, this is the breeding Redwing of Western Texas, 
from Langtry, Val Verde county, west in the trans-Pecos country to 
El Paso. Southeastward in winter to Brownsville. 

311. Agelaius phoeniceus richmondi. Vera Cruz Red-wing. 

Coast region and Lower Rio Grande, from Velasco to Brownsville, resi- 
dent (Ridgway). 
312. Sturnella magna. Meadowlark. 

Migrant and winter resident in Eastern Texas, apparently not very 
common. Probably resident in the counties bordering on the State 
of Louisiana. The literature in regard to the Texas meadowlarks is 
in hopeless confusion. At Waco, Sturnella magna is a rare winter 
visitor. Many of the Western Texas records of this species are based 

on the Western Lark. 

313. Sturnella magna hoopesi. Texas Meadowlark. 

Rio Grande Valley from Brownsville west to El Paso, resident. North 

in the coast region to Refugio and Calhoun counties, perhaps further. 

314. Sturnella neglecta. Western Meadowlark. 

Abundant winter resident throughout the State. Summer resident 
from the wooded and coast prairie regions of Eastern and Southeastern 
Texas, westward. Rather uncommon at Waco in summer but 
abundant in the central prairie districts and on the plains. 



44 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



315. Icterus melanocephalus audubonii. Audubon's Oriole. 

Lower Rio Grande, casually north to San Antonio, resident. 

316. Icterus parisorum. Scott's Oriole. 

Trans-Pecos region (El Paso: Pecos River [Ridgway]). Sum- 
mer resident. Orioles supposed to be of this species were ob- 
served by our party in the Chisos Mountains in the early part of 
May, 1905. 

317. Icierus cucullatus sennettii. Sennett's Hooded Oriole. 

Lower Rio Grande (Cameron and Hidalgo counties) northwest to 
Laredo. Summer resident 

318. Icterus spurius. Orchard Oriole. 

Summer resident of the eastern half of the State, breeding from the 
northern boundary south to the Rio Grande, west to San Angelo, 
Laredo, etc. Mr. William Winston and the writer found 58 nests of 
this species at Waco on the 21 day of May, 1897, nearly all of them 
in mesquite trees. On another occasion I found a female incubating 
her four eggs in an old mockingbird nest in a Bois d' Arc hedge. Her 
own domicile had probably been destroyed by boys soon after its 
completion and she was compelled to make shift. 

319. Icterus galbula. Baltimore Oriole. 

Eastern Texas, migrant, not common. Breeds in the extreme north- 
eastern section of the State. At Waco an exceedingly rare migrant, 
only five specimens being noted in twenty years. Cooke records it as 
a migrant at Gainesville and Bonham. 

320. Icterus bullockii. Bullock's Oriole. 

Abundant summer resident of the western and southwestern sections 
of the State. East to Refugio and San Antonio, breeding in both 
localities. Rare spring visitor at Waco, not known to breed in the 
vicinity. On the southern plains this is one of the most abundant 
summer birds. Near Midland, we found six nests in one small grove of 
fifteen trees. Nests were found in mesquite and cat-claw bushes only 
a few feet from the ground and in some cases within a dozen feet of 
an occupied nest of Swainson's Hawk. 

321. Euphagus carolinus. Rusty Blackbird. 

Winters on the eastern coast and in the interior districts of extreme 
Eastern Texas. South to Harris county (Nehrling). 



THE BIRDS OF TEXAS 45 



322. Euphagus cyanocephalus. Brewer's Blackbird. 

Middle, Western, and Southern Texas. Abundant winter resident 
on the Lower Rio Grande, in the coast region north to Refugio and 
Bee Counties, middle southern Texas in Bexar, Kerr and Kendall 
counties, etc. Rather rare winter visitor at Waco. Breeds on the 
southern plains and in the trans-Pecos districts where it is a perma- 
nent resident. 

323. Quiscalus quiscula aeneus. Bronzed Grackle. 

Abundant resident of Eastern, Northern and Central Texas, breeding 
as far south as Bexar and Harris counties. West in winter to Tom 
Green and Concho counties and south into the coast prairie region. 
Rather rare resident of the Panhandle (Armstrong and Potter 
counties, etc.) 

324. Megaquiscalus major. Boat-tailed Grackle. 

Coast region south to Houston and Galveston, (where it is said to 
breed abundantly) . Intergrading with M. m. macrourus (Ridgway). 

325. Megaquiscalus major macrourus. Great-tailed Grackle. 

Coast region from Corpus Christi southward, the Lower Rio Grande and 
the southern district north to San Antonio, resident. Mr. Attwater 
informed Mr. J. J. Carroll that he was positive that he had observed 
this species at Waco, but both Carroll and I were sceptical. In the 
spring of 1904, Prade reported seeing a couple of specimens and in 
1906 I had the pleasure of discovering a small flock in the Brazos 
bottom. They were associated with Brewer's Blackbirds and Cow- 
birds. I presume that all of these were straggiers. 

FAMILY FRINGILLIDAE. The Sparrows and Finches. 

326. Carpodacus purpureus. Purple Finch. 

Irregular winter visitor (Gainesville and Waco). 

327. Carpodacus cassinii. Cassin's Purple Finch. 

Straggles into Northeastern Texas during the winter months. Gaines- 
ville (Ragsdale). 

328. Carpodacus mexicanus frontalis. House Finch. 

Western Texas — trans-Pecos region and southern plains, east to Fort 
Clark. Resident. 



46 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



329. Lorn cnrarostra minor. American Cross-bill. 

In the winter of 1889-90. the late Chas. D. Oldright obtained spec- 
imens of this species at Waco (Recorded in the Ornithologist and 
Ooligist for March. 1890). Prade also reports Cross-bills from 
Waco. 

330. Loxia cnrvirostra stricklandi. Mexican Cross-bill. 

Bailey records this sub-species from the Chisos Mountains, probably 
breeding. 

331. Astragalinns tristis. American Goldfinch. 

This Goldfinch straggles into Northeastern and extreme Eastern Texas 
in winter (Gainesville. Tyler. Palestine, etc.) 

332. Astragalinus tristis pallidas. Western Goldfinch. 

Western half of the State in winter, resident through the season 
East to Laredo, San Antonio and the vicinity of Corsicana. 

333. Astragalinus psaltria. Arkansas Goldfinch. 

Western Texas, east to the Angelo country. Recorded as a summer 
resident of the trans-Pecos region, the southern plains and the San 
Angelo district. Winters principally in the Rio Grande Valley. 

334. Astragalinus psaltria mexicaniis. Mexican Goldfinch. 

Southern and Central Texas (Kinney, Mason, Eastland. Bexar and 
Travis counties). Summer resident. 

335. Astragalinus psaltria arizonae. Arizona Goldfinch. 

This sub-species straggles east and southeastward during the migra- 
tions to the Rio Grande Valley (Lomita [Sennett] and San Antonio 
[Attwater]). 

336. Spinus pinus. Pine Siskin. 

Irregular winter visitor to the extreme eastern and northern Gulf coast 
sections of the State. 

337. Calcarins lapponicus. Lapland Longspur. 

Irregular winter visitor, straggling south into the central portion of the 
State (Gainesville [Ragsdale] Navarro County. Nov.-Mar. [Ogilby]). 

338. Calcarins pictns. Smith's Longspur. 

Northern Texas in winter (Bonham. Gainesville). 

339. Calcarins oraatus. Chestnut-collared Longspur. 

South in winter to Central and Southern Texas (Waco, Gainesville. 
Boerne, San Antonio). 



THEBIRDSOFTEXAS 47 



340. Rhynchophanes mccownii. McCown's Longspur. 

South in winter through middle Texas to the Rio Grande (Laredo, Gal- 
veston, Gainesville, Waco, etc.) 

341. Pooecetes gramineus. Vesper Sparrow. 

This sub-species migrates through the extreme eastern section to the 
Gulf coast counties where numbers spend the winter. 

342. Pooecetes gramineus confinis. Western Vesper Sparrow. 

This species winters throughout the State with the exception of the 
extreme eastern and northern Gulf coast sections. Said to breed near 
San Antonio and locally through Western Texas. 

343. Passerculus sandvichensis savanna. Savannah Sparrow. 

Winter resident in the extreme eastern section and on the Gulf 
coast south to Corpus Christi. 
334. Passerculus sandvichensis alaudinus. Western Savannah Sparrow. 

Common winter resident, occurring throughout the State with the 
possible exception of the extreme eastern counties. Both this and the 
eastern form occur at Waco. The present sub-species is recorded 
from various localities on the coast from Corpus Christi southward, 
the Rio Grande counties, etc. Recorded as breeding near Houston 
(Nehrling) and in Western Texas (Lloyd). 

345. Centronyx bairdii. Baird's Sparrow. 

Migrant through the central and western sections of the State, winter- 
ing in the trans-Pecos country. East to Gainesville. Recorded by 
McCauley as breeding in Northern Texas (Canyon City). 

346. Coturniculus savannarum bimaculatus. Western Grasshopper Sparrow. 

Resident. Recorded as summer resident at Boerne, Gainsville, San 
Angelo, Waco, San Antonio, in Navarro county and various localities 
in Western Texas. Winters principally in the Rio Grande country. 

347. Ammodramus henslowii. Henslow's Sparrow. 

Rare winter visitor (Cook County [Ragsdale] Navarro County [Ogil- 
by]). 

348. Ammodramus leconteii. LeConte's Sparrow. 

Common winter resident south to San Antonio and Corpus Christi. 
Also recorded from Cooke, Navarro, Falls and McLennan counties. 

349. Ammodramus caudacutus nelsoni. Nelson's Sparrow. 

Winter resident along the Gulf coast, south to Neuces Bay (Chapman). 



48 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



350. Ammodramus maratimus sennettii. Texas Seaside Sparrow. 

Coast of Texas, probably resident. Recorded in summer from Galves- 
ton, Rockport, Tally's Island, Corpus Christi, Neuces Bay, Refugio 
county, etc. 

351. Ammodramus maratimus fisherii. Fisher's Seaside Sparrow. 

Corpus Christi, one specimen (Chapman. As A. m. peninsulae Chap- 
man. See Ridgway). Probably winters along the northern Gulf coast. 

352. Chondestes grammacus. Lark Sparrow. 

The eastern Lark Sparrow is recorded as a migrant at Bonham and 
San Antonio. Winter birds from Waco are intermediate between this 
and strigatus. 

353. Chondestes grammacus strigatus. Western Lark Sparrow. 

Abundant summer resident. Recorded as breeding from the Lower 
Rio Grande north to Gainesville, and west through the Panhandle and 
the more level districts of trans-Pecos Texas. We collected specimens 
in the Davis Mountains during the breeding season. Winters prin- 
cipally in the southern section of the State. 

354. Zonotrichia querula. Harris's Sparrow. 

Abundant winter resident of the middle districts, south to Bexar and 
Kendall counties. 

355. Zonotrichia leucophrys. White-crowned Sparrow. 

Abundant winter resident, from the northern boundary south to the 
Rio Grande country. 

356. Zonotrichia leucophrys gambellii. Gambei's Sparrow. 

Winter resident of the western half of the State, southeastward during 
the migrations to the Rio Grande Valley. "Across the great Plains to 
Eastern Texas" according to Ridgway, but I have never taken a speci- 
men in Central Texas. 

357. Zonotrichia albicollis. White-throated Sparrow. 

Common winter resident from Northern Texas to the Rio Grande 
country. 

358. Spizeila monticola ochracea. Western Tree Sparrow. 

Winter resident. Recorded from Gainesville and Tom Green and 
Concho counties. 

359. Spizeila socialis. Chipping Sparrow. 

Coast region of Eastern Texas in winter. South to the Lower Rio 
Grande. 



THEBIRDSOFTEXAS 49 



360. Spizella socialis arizonae. Western Chipping Sparrow. 

Migrant through the western half of the State. Winters in the Rio 
Grande Valley. During the migrations east to Gainesville,Boerne, Waco, 
etc. Recorded as a summer resident in Tom Green, Concho and 

Bexar counties. 

361. Spizella pallida. Clay-colored Sparrow. 

Migrates southeastward to the Rio Grande Valley, where it is a com- 
mon winter resident. Recorded as breeding in the Panhandle region, 
"Red River Canyon, edge of the Staked Plains, Paloduro and Red River 
Valley" (McCauley, Bull. U. S. Geol. and Geog. Surv. Terr., Ill, 1877, 

664.) 

362. Spizella breweri. Brewer's Sparrow. 

Migrant through Middle and Western Texas. East to Gainesville, 
Boerne. Reported from El Paso and Tom Green and Concho counties 
in winter. 

363. Spizella pusilla. Field Sparrow. 

Middle and Eastern Texas, summer resident from San Antonio north- 
ward. South In winter to the Gulf coast (Neuces, San Patricio, and 

Refugio counties.) 

364. Spizella pusilla arenacea. Western Field Sparrow. 

Western Texas, east during the migrations to Boerne, Laredo and the 
Angelo country. Winters in the Rio Grande region. 

365. Spizella wortheni. Mexican Field Sparrow. 

Western Texas (Sharpe. Cat. Birds, Brit. Mus., XII, 1888, 666.) 

366. Junco hyemalis. Slate-colored Junco. 

Winter resident of Eastern and Southern Texas, south to Bexar and 
Harris counties, west to Tom Green and Concho counties. 

367. Junco oreganus shufeldti. Shufeldt's Junco. 

Recorded from Boerne, San Antonio, Gainesville and San Angelo in 
winter. 

368. Junco caniceps. Gray-headed Junco. 

Winters in El Paso county. May breed in the Guadalupe Mountains ? 
(Florence Merriam Bailey, Handbook of the Birds of the Western 

United States.) 

369. Junco montanus. Montana Junco. 

According to Ridgway, this species occurs east to Middle Texas in 
winter. The only authenic specimens that I have seen are two col- 
lected near Waco by Prade and now in my collection. 



50 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



370. Junco dorsalis. Red-backed Junco. 

Fort Davis, winter resident (Lloyd). Occurs and probably breeds in 
the Guadalupe Mountains (Bailey). 

371. Amphispiza bilineata. Black-throated Sparrow. 

Middle and Eastern Texas, except along the Gulf coast. Resident. 
(Recorded from the Lower Rio Grande, San Antonio, Mason, Eastland 
county, etc.). 

372. Amphispiza bilineata deserticola. Desert Sparrow. 

Trans-Pecos region, the southern plains and the Panhandle west of the 
edge of the Staked Plains, summer resident. Winters in the southern 
part of its breeding range. 

373. Amphispiza belli nevadensis. Sage Sparrow. 

Recorded from Fort Davis by Lloyd. Winter resident. 

374. Aimophila aestivalis bachmanii. Bachman's Sparrow. 

Open woodlands of Eastern and Middle Texas, very locally distributed. 
Probably resident. Recorded from Cooke, Navarro, Tom Green and 
Concho counties. 

375. Aimophila botterii. Botteri's Sparrow. 

Lower Rio Grande Valley (Fort Brown). Summer resident. 

376. Aimophila cassinii. Cassin's Sparrow. 

Texas, except the extreme eastern section, summer resident. The 
writer has personally observed this species in McLennan, Falls, Rob- 
ertson, Somervell, Armstrong, Potter, Midland, Burnet, Travis, Llano, 
Bexar, Bee, Refugio and Matagorda counties, and in the country west 
of the Pecos River. 

377. Aimophila ruficeps scottii. Scott's Sparrow. 

(Resident) in El Paso County (Ridgway). The same author states 
that specimens from Presidio and Mitchell counties are intermediate 
between this and eremoeca. 

378. Aimophila ruficeps eremoeca. Rock Sparrow. 

Limestone hill districts of Middle Texas, from Kinney and Maverick 
counties on the Rio Grands, northeastward to Cooke county and west- 
ward at least to Tom Green county, south in winter to Mexico. 
(Ridgway.) The writer has observed this species in Burnet and 
Travis counties but never in the limestone districts of Coryell and Bos- 
que counties. 



THEBIRDSOFTEXAS 51 



379. Melospiza cinerea melodia. Song Sparrow. 

Eastern half of the State, south to the Rio Grande, winter resident. 
West to Waco and San Antonio. 

380. Melospiza cinerea montana. Mountain Song Sparrow. 

The western section of the State in winter (Fort Clark, Fort Davis, 
etc.) Recorded from Navarro county by Ogilby but his specimens 
were probably not typical. Song sparrows from Waco are duller 
colored and have smaller bills than eastern examples but I do not 
believe that we get typical examples of montana this far east. 

381. Melospiza lincolnii. Lincoln's Sparrow. 

Abundant winter resident, recorded principally from the eastern half 
of the State. (Recorded from San Antonio, Brownsville, Waco, 
Gainesville, Dallas, etc). 

382. Melospiza georgiana. Swamp Sparrow. 

Winter resident, apparently not common or else it has been overlooked 
by nearly all of the collectors. Recorded from San Antonio, San An- 
gelo and (?) Fort Davis. 

383. Passerella iliaca. Fox-colored Sparrow. 

Common winter resident. Recorded from as far south as Bexar and 
Kendall counties. Very common at Waco and in the more eastern 
counties. 

384. Arremonops ruf ivirgatus. Texas Sparrow. 

Southern Texas, summer resident (Webb, Kinney, Starr, Zapata, 
Cameron, Hidalgo, Neuces, San Patricio counties). 

385. Pipilo erythrophthalmus. Towee: Chewink. 

Eastern and Central Texas, winter resident. Recorded from as far 
south as San Antonio and west to San Angelo. 

386. Pipilo maculatus arcticus. Arctic Towhee. 

Winters through the middle district south to Bexar and Bandera coun- 
ties and in the coast region (Corpus Christi). East to Waco. 

387. Pipilo maculatus megalonyx. Spurred Towhee. 

Western Texas, east in winter to Kendall county. A common sum- 
mer resident of the trans-Pecos country. 

388. Pipilo fuscus mesoleucus. Canyon Towhee. 

Western Texas — trans-Pecos region east to Tom Green county. Res- 
ident. 



52 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



389. Oreospiza chlorura. Green-tailed Towhee. 

Western half of the State eastward during the migrations to the Low- 
er Rio Grande, San Antonio, etc. Breeds in the trans-Pecos region. 
Recorded from the Middle Concho and the east side of the Pecos, 
probably breeding, by Lloyd. 

390. Cardinalis cardinalis. Cardinal. 

North-eastern Texas, resident. 

391. Cardinalis cardinalis canicaudus. Gray-tailed Cardinal. 

Texas, except the western and northeastern parts, resident. Speci- 
mens from Waco come as near being "Gray-tailed Cardinals" as 
specimens from Rockport, near the type locality, in the writer's 
collection. 

392. Pyrrhuloxia sinuata. Pyrrhuloxia. 

Trans-Pecos region, resident. Recorded from El Paso by Ridgway. 
The writer has specimens from the arid strip between Alpine and Ele- 
phant Mesa, Brewster county. 

393. Pyrrhuloxia sinuata texana. Texan Pyrrhuloxia. 

Sonthern Texas, north in the coast region to Refugio and Bee coun- 
ties, in the interior to Bexar and Kendall counties, west to the Angelo 
country and Pecos river. 

394. Zamelodia ludoviciana. Rose-breasted Grosbeak. 

Rare migrant. Recorded from San Antonio by Dresser and Attwater. 
The writer has a male example in full plumage that was shot near 
Waco by Earl T. Prade. 

395. Zamelodia melanocephala. Black-headed Grosbeak. 

Western Texas, east to Colorado City, San Saba, Mason, Tom Green and 
Concho counties. 

396. Guiraca coeralea. Blue Grosbeak. 

Extreme eastern and northeastern Texas, summer resident 

397. Guriaca coerulea lazula. Western Blue Grosbeak. 

Texas, except the extreme eastern and northeastern parts, summer 
resident. (Gainesville, Waco, Austin, Burnet, Navaro county, San 
Antonio, Fort Brown, Lomita, Hidalgo, Refugio, Laredo, Davis Moun- 
tains, etc.) 

398. Cyanospiza cyanea. Indigo Bunting. 

Common migrant through the eastern half of the State, west to Tom 
Green county. Breeds in the northeastern section. 



THEBIRDSOFTEXAS 53 



399. Cyanospiza amoena. Lazuli Bunting. 

Western Texas, migrant. Summer resident in the trans-Pecos coun- 
try. 

400. Cyanospiza versicolor. Varied Bunting. 

Lower Rio Grande (Cameron and Hidalgo counties), summer resident. 

401. Cyanopiza ciris. Painted Bunting. 

Eastern, Central and Southern Texas, summer resident. Recorded 
from the Lower Rio Grande, the Red River Valley in Northern Texas, 
the eastern and central district, etc. Migrating westward over the 
southern plains and through the trans-Pecos country. 

402. Sporophila morrelleti. Morrelet's Seed-eater. 

Lower Rio Grande (Cameron and Hidalgo counties), summer resi- 
dent. 

403. Spiza americana. Dickcissel. 

Prairie districts of Eastern Texas from the northern boundary to the 
Rio Grande. (Recorded as breeding in Cooke, Mc Lennan, Falls, 
Bexar, Bee, Harris, Hidalgo counties.) 

404. Calamospiza melancorys. Lark Bunting. 

This species migrates through the middle and western districts and 
coast region from Corpus Christi southward. East to Bonham and 
Waco. Winters principally in the southern counties. I have exam- 
ples in full breeding plumage collected in the Davis Mountains and at 
Midland in April and May. The Lark Bunting is probably a breeding 
bird on the central plains and in the Panhandle. Recorded as a rare 
summer resident at Mason. 

405. Passer domesticus. House Sparrow. 

This introduced species is now diffused over the entire State. I have 
observed specimens at several small stations in the northern Pan- 
handle, at Alpine, in Brewster county, and at Boracho, El Paso 
county. 

FAMILY Tanagridae. Tanagers. 

406. Piranga ludoviciana. Louisiana Tanager. 

Trans-Pecos region, summer resident. Lloyd records a single speci- 
men shot on the south Concho. Breeds in the Transition Zone of both 
the Davis and Guadalupe Mountains (Bailey). 



34 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



407. Piranga erythromelas. Scarlet Tanager. 

Eastern half of the State, rather rare migrant. West to Eagle Pass 
(Butcher). Moderately common migrant at Houston (Nehrling). 
Rare at Waco (only observed nvice in twenty years) and at San An- 
tonio. Dresser's El Paso breeding record is ridiculous. 

408. Piranga hepatica, Hepatic Tanager. 

Trans-Pecos region, summer resident breeding in the Davis, Chisos 
and Guadalupe Mountains (Bailey). 

409. Pirango rubra. Summer Tanager. 

Eastern section of the State, summer resident, breeding from the 
northern boundary south to the Lower Rio Grande, west to San An- 
gelo. Laredo, etc. Authentic breeding records from Fort Brown, 
Lomita. San Antonio. Refugio (Strecker). Gainesville, Mason, Houston, 
Burnet (Strecker) , etc. 

410. Piranga rubra cooper! Cooper's Tanager. 

Trans-Pecos region, summer resident. We collected an interesting 
series of these Tanagers in several localities in Brewster county, and I 
observed numerous specimens in El Paso and Jeff Davis counties in 
1904. 

FAMILY Himndinidae. Swallows. 

411. Progne subis. Purple Martin. 

Summer resident, distributed over the entire State. 

412. Petrochelidon lunifrons. Cliff Swallow. 

The entire State, with the exception of the Upper Rio Grande Valley 
from the mouth of the Pecos westward, summer resident. Especially 
abundant in the canyons and breaks on the plains. 

413. Petrochelidon lunifrons tachina. Lesser Cliff Swallow. 

Upper Rio Grande Valley, from the mouth of the Pecos westward, 
summer resident. Recorded from the Pecos River in Presidio county, 
Brewster county (Paisano), and Val Verde county (Langtry). (Ridg- 
way and Oberholser) . 

414. Hirundo erythrogastra. Barn Swallow. 

Abundant migrant. Breeds locally (San Antonio, Boerne, Valentine 
[Strecker]. and Tyler [Strecker]). 

415. Iridoprocne bicolor. Tree Swallow. 

Common migrant. Winter resident in the coast region. Recorded as 
a common summer resident at Corpus Christi by Hancock. 



THEBIRDSOFTEXAS 55 



416. Tachycineta thalassina lepida. Violet-green Swallow. 

Western Texas, occurring as a fall migrant as far east as Concho 
county (Lloyd). Probably breeds in the mountains in the trans- 
Pecos country. 

417. Riparia riparia. Bank Swallow. 

Abundant migrant. Common summer resident, breeding in favorable 
localities throughout the eastern, central and southern sections. In 
Concho county recorded only as a migrant. 

418. Stelgidopteryx serripenis. Rough-winged Swallow. 

Abundant migrant. Summer resident, breeding locally. 

FAMILY Ampelidae. Waxwings. 

419. Ampelis cedrorum. Cedar Waxwing. 

Abundant from October to May, distributed throughout the State. 
Resident in some of the mountain ranges of the trans-Pecos region. 

FAMILY Ptilogonatidae. The Silky Flycatchers. 

420. Phainopepla nitens. Phainopepla. 

Trans-Pecos region, summer resident, in winter east to Eagle Pass 
etc. My specimens are from the Davis Mountains (Paisano, May.). 

FAMILY Laniidae. Shrikes. 

421. Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides. White-rumped Shrike. 

Abundant winter resident, occurring throughout the State. Breeds 
locally in Eastern and Southeastern Texas. Common summer resi- 
dent of the southern plains and trans-Pecos regions (Midland, Ector, 
Ward, Reeves, Jeff Davis counties). 

422. Lanius ludovicianus migrans. Migrant Shrike. 

El Paso, February: Fort Clark, January (Ridway). 

FAMILY Yireonidae. Vireos. 

423. Vireosylva olivacea. Red-eyed Vireo. 

Eastern Texas, summer resident in the wooded regions. West during 
the the migrations to Tom Green and Concho counties. 

424. Vireosylva flavoviridis. Yellow-green Vireo. 

Accidental in Southern Texas (Fort Brown, one specimen, August 23, 
1877, Dr. J. C. Merrill). 



56 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



425. Vireosylva gilva Warbling Vireo. 

Eastern section of the State, summer resident, breeding south to San 
Antonio (Dresser). 

426. Vireosylva gilva swainsonii. Western Warbling Vireo. 

Western Texas, east to Webb and Tom Green counties. Common in 
the mountains of trans-Pecos Texas. 

427. Lanivireo solitarius. Solitary Vireo. 

Winter resident of Eastern and Southern Texas, south to the Lower 
Rio Grande. Not common. 

428. Lanivireo solitarius plumbeus. Plumbeous Vireo. 

Tolerably common in the mountains of the trans-Pecos region. Sum- 
mer resident. 

429. Lanivireo flavifrons. Yellow-throated Vireo. 

Eastern and Southeastern Texas, summer resident as far south as 
Houston and San Antonio. 

430. Vireo atricapillus. Black-capped Vireo. 

Middle Texas, summer resident. Recorded from Cooke, Comanche, 
Comal, Bexar, Medina, Erath, Bandera, Kendall, Concho, Tom Green, 
Travis, and McLennan counties. El Paso and San Pedro River 
(Baird). 

431. Vireo noveboracensis. White-eyed Vireo. 

Common resident of the eastern half of the State, west in fall to the 
San Angelo country. Breeds south to Refugio, Bee, and Live Oak 
counties, in this district intergrading with the next sub-species. 

432. Vireo noveboracensis micros. Small White-eyed Vireo. 

Rio Grande Valley (Cameron and Hidalgo counties to Kinney county) 
(Ridgway). Resident. 

433. Vireo huttoni stephensi Stephen's Vireo. 

Recorded from Fort Davis by Lloyd. The specimens were identified 
by Ridgway. Probably winter birds. 

434. Vireo bellil Bell's Vireo. 

Prairie districts of Eastern and Central Texas, west to the Angelo 
country, south to the Rio Grande. Summer resident. 

435. Vireo bellii medius. Texas Vireo. 

Southwestern Texas, in Brewster, Presidio and Kinney counties. Type 
from Boquillas, Brewster county. (Oberholser and Ridgway). 



THEBIRDSOFTEXAS 57 

436. Vireo bellii arizonae. Arizona Vireo. 

El Paso and Fort Hancock (Ridgway). 

437. Vireo vicinior. Gray Vireo. 

Western Texas (A. 0. U. Check-List). 

FAMILY MNIOTILTIDAE. Wood Warblers. 

438. Mniotilta varia. Black-and- White Warbler. 

Eastern Texas, abundant migrant; summer resident in the extreme 
northeastern and eastern sections. A few probably spend the winter 
in the Lower Rio Grande country. 

439. Protonotaria citrea. Prothonotary Warbler. 

Summer resident of Eastern Texas, breeding west to Navarro and Mc- 
Lennan and south to Harris and Fort Bend counties. 

440. Helinaia swainsonii. Swainson's Warbler. 

Rice, Navarro county, J. Douglas Ogilby (Ridgway, Bull. Nutt. Ornith, 
Club, VI, 1881, pp. 54-55) Port Bolivar, April 17, 1904 (Cooke, "Dis- 
tribution and Migration of North American Warblers.") Prob- 
ably stragglers. 

441. Helmitheros vermivorus. Worm-eating Warbler. 

Rather rare migrant in the eastern section. Said to breed in the 
neighborhood of Houston (Nehrling) but I do not believe it. 

442. Helminthophila pinus. Blue-winged Warbler. 

Eastern Texas, migrant, apparently not very common. (Recorded 
from Hidalgo, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Waco.) 

443. Helminthophila chrysoptera. Golden-winged Warbler. 

Rather common migrant through the eastern part of the State. 

444. Helminthophila rubricapilla. Nashville Warbler. 

Eastern half of Texas, abundant migrant, recorded in nearly every 
published list or report. West as far as San Angelo. 

445. Helminthophila rubricapilla gutturalis. Calaveras Warbler. 

Common migrant in the western half of the State. East to San An- 
tonio, Concho county, etc. 

446. Helminthophila celata. Orange-crowned Warbler. 

Migrant through the eastern section, west to San Antonio. A few 
winter on the Lower Rio Grande. 



58 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



447. Helminthophila celata lntesoens. Lutescent Warbler. 

Recorded from the Guadalupe Mountains, probably breeding., by 
Bailey. I have examples collected in the Davis Mountains in the 

early tar: of May. 

44S. Helminthophila peregrina, Tennessee Warbler, 

Migrant through Eastern Texas. west :o the Angelo country. A few 

winner on the Lower Rio Grande 
44£ Compsothlypis americana ramaLinae. Western P anil a Warbler 

Common summer resident o: the eastern an: s:u:heas:em sections. 

Reported as breeding at Houston. Galveston, Le:n Springs. San An- 

tomo. in Let- and McLennan counties, etc. 

450. Compsothlypis pitiaynmi nigrilora. Sennett's Warbler. 

Summer resident of the Lower Rio Grande counties (Cameron. Starr, 
Hidalgo.) Not uncommon. 

451. Dendroica a estiva. Yellow Warbler. 

Summer resident in the eastern section of the State. Migrant south 
of San Antonio. 
4" 2 Dendroica aestiva sonorana, Sonoran Yellow Warbler. 

Western Texas (Frontera. here:: For: Han:: :-: -nmmer resident. 

453 Dendroica coemJescens. Ela:h-:hrca:ed Blue Warble: 

Rather rare migrant: through tar eastern settiou San Antonio. Wa: : 
etc.) 

454. Dendroica coronata. Myrtle Warbler. 

Abundant migrant Winter resident from :ne northern boundary to 
toe K-io ujacDOC country. 1 na\e one ^P"rj.men ::Dm r aisano m tne 
Davis Mountains. 

455. Dendroica audubonii Audubon's Warbler. 

Western Texas, common migrant. Re::r:e_ . as far east 

as San Angel: Pro: ably breeds in the '- .: lainpe M:nn tains 
(Bailey). 

456. Dendroica magnolia. Magnolia Warbler. 

Rather common migrant through tne eastern settion San .Antonio. 
Waco. Fon Brown, etc.) 

457. Dendroica caernlea. Cerulean Warbler. 

Rare migrant through the eastern section :o tne State >.-st to the 
Angelo country (Lloyd). 



THEBIRDSOFTEXAS 59 



458. Dendroica pensilvanica. Chestnut-sided Warbler. 

Rare migrant. The only records I can find are from the Lower Rio 
Grande (Hidalgo [Sennett], Fort Brown [Merrill]). Probably over- 
looked by some of the observers, but I am positive that it does not 
occur in the vicinity of Waco. 

459. Dendroica castanea. Bay-breasted Warbler. 

Rather uncommon migrant in the eastern section (Houston, San An- 
tonio, Waco, Fort Brown). 

460. Dendroica fusca. Blackburnian Warbler. 

This species migrates through the eastern half of the State, but is by 
no means common (Boerne, Gainesville, Waco, Fort Brown). 

461. Dendroica dominica albilora. Sycamore Warbler. 

Eastern and Southeastern Texas, summer resident, not uncommon. 
Recorded as breeding at San Antonio, near Houston, in Lee county, 
etc. 

462. Dendroica graciae. Grace's Warbler. 

Recorded from the Guadalupe Mountains, El Paso county, probably 
breeding (Bailey). 

463. Dendroica chrysoparia. Golden-cheeked Warbler. 

Central and Southern Texas, summer resident. Recorded from Bosque, 
McLennan (one specimen), Comal, Kerr, Kendall, Tom Green, Concho, 
etc., counties. 

464. Dendroica striata. Black-poll Warbler. 

Rare migrant in the eastern section (Fort Brown, Waco, etc.) 

465. Dendroica virens. Black-throated Green Warbler. 

The eastern and central portions of Texas, west to the Angelo country, 
common migrant. 

466. Dendroica townsendi. Townsend's Warbler. 

Not uncommon migrant through the western section. Reported as a 
rare summer resident of Tom Green county by Lloyd. 

467. Dendroica vigorsii. Pine Warbler. 

Eastern Texas, summer resident of the pine-woods district. West dur- 
ing the migrations to Lee county. 

468. Dendroica discolor. Prairie Warbler. 

Cooke ("Distribution and Migration of North American Warblers") 
reports having examined a single example of this Warbler from Texas, 
but fails to state specific locality. 



60 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 

469. Seiurus aurocapillus. Ovenbird. 

Migrant through the eastern half of the State, rather common. (Waco, 

San Antonio, Giddings [Singley MSS.] Concho county, etc.) 

470. Seiurus noveboracensis. Water Thrush. 

Common migrant through the eastern section, west to San Antonio, 
Waco, etc. Winter resident on the Lower Rio Grande. In mild 
winters remaining in Central Texas through the season. 

471. Seiurus noveboracensis notabilis, Grinnell's Water Thrush. 

Migrant through Eastern and Southeastern Texas. (Hidalgo, San An- 
tonio, etc.) 

472. Seiurus motacitla. Louisiana Water Thrush. 

Eastern Texas, common migrant, rare summer resident 

473. Oporomis formosa. Kentucky Warbler. 

Summer resident, breeding locally as far south as Houston, west to Waco. 

474. Oporomis Philadelphia. Mourning Warbler. 

Common migrant through the eastern section. 

475. Oporornis tolmei, Macgillivray's Warbler. 

Abundant migrant in the western section, summer resident in the 
trans-Pecos mountains. Straggling eastward during the migrations 
to Gainesville, San Antonio. 

476. Geothlypis trichas occidentalis. Western Yellow-throat. 

Migrant through the western section, east to Waco, Gainesville, Gid- 
dings. 

477. Geothlypis trichas brachidactyla. Northern Yellow-throat. 

Abundant migrant through the eastern and central sections. Sum- 
mer resident, according to Cooke. 

478. Chamaethlypis poliocephala. Ralph's Ground Chat. 

A Mexican species found in summer in the vicinity of Brownsville, 
Cameron county. 

479. Icteria virens. Yellow-breasted Chat. 

Eastern Texas, summer resident, breeding from the northern boundary 
south to the Lower Rio Grande. West to Austin and Waco. At the 
latter place it is an abundant migrant but is very rare during the 
breeding season. 

480. Icteria virens longicauda. Long-tailed Chat. 

Western Texas, summer resident. (Breeding in Tom Green and Con- 
cho counties, etc.) East during the migrations through the Lower 
Rio Grande. 



THEBIRDSOFTEXAS 61 



481. Wilsonia citrina. Hooded Warbler. 

Eastern section of the State, common migrant, rare summer resident 

482. Wilsonia pusilla. Wilson's Warbler. 

Common migrant through the eastern section. 

483. Wilsonia pusilla pileolata. Pileolated Warbler. 

Guadalupe Mountains, probably breeding (Bailey). We observed a 
small flock of these warblers in the Davis Mountains in the early part 
of May and obtained two males. 

484. Wilsonia canadensis. Canadian Warbler. 

Eastern half of the State, migrant, not uncommon. (Houston, San 
Antonio, Hidalgo, San Angelo, Fort Brown.) I have never observed a 
specimen of this warbler in East-central Texas. 

485. Setophaga ruticilla. American Redstart. 

Common migrant through the eastern half of the State. 

FAMILY Motacillidae. Wagtails. Pipits, etc. 

485. Anthus rubescens. American Pipit. 

Abundant migrant and common winter resident, distributed over the 
entire state. 

487. Anthus spragueii. Sprague's Pipit: Missouri Skylark. 

Migrant and winter resident, not as abundant as the last species. 
Recorded from Cameron, Kendall, Tom Green, Concho, Harris, Bexar, 
Neuces, and McLennan counties. 

FAMILY Cinclidae. Dippers. 

488. Cinclus mexicanus unicolor. American Dipper. 

Recorded from western Texas by McCall (Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. 
Phila., V. 1851, p. 216). Western Texas is also included in the range 
of this species by Ridgway (Birds of North and Middle America). 

FAMILY Mimidae. Mocking Thrushes. 

489. Oroscoptes montanus. Sage Thrasher. 

Western Texas, in summer to Tom Green and Concho counties: in 
winter east to the eastern and coast sections. (Corpus Christi, Re- 
fugio, Waco, San Antonio, etc.) 

490. Mimus polyglottos. Mockingbird. 

Eastern and coast sections, south to Galveston, resident. 



62 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



491. Minros polyglottos leucop terns. Western Mockingbird. 

This subspecies is a resident of the entire State with the exception of 
the extreme eastern section. Waco specimens are intermediate 
between this and typical polyglottos. 

492. Dumetella carolinensis. Catbird. 

Eastern Texas, south along the coast to the Rio Grande. Vest to Waco 
and San Antonio. Resident in some of the eastern counties, breeding 
as far south as Houston (Nehrling). At Waco and San Antonio, mi- 
grant and irregular winter resident, not common. 

493. Toxostoma rofunL Brown Thrasher. 

Common migrant and winter resident in the extreme eastern section 
of the State. South to Bexar and Harris counties. Rare winter resi- 
dent in the vicinity of Waco. 

494. Toxostoma longirostre sennettii. Sennett Thrasher. 

Rio Grande Valley and southern Gulf coast of Texas. (Neuces, Cam- 
eron, Hidalgo, Starr, Webb, Zapata counties, occasionally along the 
coast to Galveston [Ridgway.]) 

495. Toxostoma curvirostre. Curve-billed Thrasher. 

Rio Grande Valley of Texas — Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, Webb, Maver, 
ick, south Gulf coast (Neuces, San Patricio and Refugio counties) - 
westward along the Rio Grande through the trans-Pecos region to El 
Paso. 

496. Toxostoma crissale. Crissal Thrasher. 

Deserts of Western Texas (Fort Hancock, Ysleta, Franklin Mountains 
El Paso and Brewster counties, etc [Ridgway]). 

FAMILY Troglodytidae. Wrens. 

497. Heleodytes bronneicapilhis couesi. Texas Cactus Wren. 

Rio Grande Valley, north to San Antonio, west across the southern 
plains and trans-Pecos regions. Resident 

498. Salpinctes obsoletus. Rock Wren. 

Western Texas, east to the central districts (Bexar, Travis, Kendall 
counties). A common bird in the trans-Pecos region and in the can- 
yons on the plains. Summer resident, wintering in the Rio Grande 
Valley and southward. 

499. Catherpes mexicanus albifrons. Giraud's Canyon Wren. 

Recorded from Langtry, Val Verde county, by Oberholser. 



THEBIRDSOFTEXAS 63 



500. Catherpes mexicanus polioptilus. Intermediate Canyon Wren. 

Central and Central Southern Texas, west thryough the trans-Pecos 
country and north through the Panhandle. In Central Texas recorded 
from Bosque, Travis and Burnet counties, and from Kerr, Kendall and 
Bexar in the more southern portion of the same region. Resident. 

501. Thryothorus ludovicianus. Carolina Wren. 

Eastern and Middle Texas (west to Val Verde and Tom Green coun- 
ties). Replaced on the Lower Rio Grande by the Lomita Wren. Res- 
ident. • 

502. Thryothorus ludovicianus lomitensis. Lomita Wren. 

Lower Rio Grande Valley (Lomita ranch, Hidalgo, Brownsville, Gran- 
cano [Ridgway] ). 

503. Thryomanes bewickii. Bewick's Wren. 

Eastern and Central Texas (Waller, Brazos, Jefferson, Orange, Brazo- 
ria, etc., counties) in winter. 

504. Thryomanes bewickii cryptus. Texan Wren. 

Texas, except extreme western portion. Resident. Very abundant 
in the southern and central sections of the State. 

505. Thryomanes bewickii eremophilus. Desert Wren. 

Extreme western portion of Texas, east to central parts in winter. 
(Oberholser). 

506. Troglodytes aedon. House Wren. 

Eastern Texas in coast region, fall and winter (Neuces Bay, Dec; 
Alice, Oct. 5,: Santa Rosa, Cameron county, Sept. 27 [Ridgway]). 

507. Troglodytes aedon parkmanii. Western House Wren. 

Abundant migrant. Winter resident in the southern section of the 
State. May possibly breed in Northern Texas. 

508. Nannus hiemalis. Winter Wren. 

Rare winter visitor, occurring as far south as San Antonio. 

509. Cistothorus stellaris. Short-billed Marsh Wren. 

Rare migrant and winter resident, principally in the coast region. 
Recorded from Lee county (Singley), San Antonio (Att water), etc. 

510. Telmatodytes palustris iliacus. Prairie Marsh Wren. 

Fort Brown and Corpus Christi (Ridgway). Winter birds. 

511. Telmatodytes palustris plesius. Western Marsh Wren. 

Western and Central Texas, migrant and winter resident. (San An- 
tonio [Attwater] , Waco, etc.) 



64 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



512. Telmatodytes palustris thryophilus. Louisiana Marsh Wren. 

Sabine, Texas, collection U. S. Nat. Museum (Oberholser, Proc. Biol. 
Soe. Wash., XVI, 1903, p. 149). 

FAMILY Certhiidae. Creepers. 

513. Certhia familiaris americana. Brown Creeper. 

Winter resident in Eastern Texas, south to Bexar, Medina and Kendall 
counties. 

FAMILY Sittidae. Nuthatches. 

514. Sitta carolinensis. White-breasted Nuthatch. 

Eastern Texas, west to Gainesville, resident. According to Beckham, 
occurs south to San Antonio and Leon Springs. In the twenty years 
the writer has lived at Waco, he has never observed a single specimen 
of this species. 

515. Sitta carolinensis nelsoni. Rocky Mountain Nuthatch. 

Trans-Pecos region in the Davis, Chisos and Guadalupe Mountains 
(Bailey). East to Concho and Tom Green counties in winter (Lloyd. 
As Sitta carolinensis aculeata). 

516. Sitta canadensis. Red-breasted Nuthatch. 

Irregular winter resident in Eastern and Southeastern Texas, south to 
San Antonio. During severe winters this species is not uncommon in 
the vicinity of Waco. 

517. Sitta pusilla. Brown-headed Nuthatch. 

Eastern Texas (Tyler, Jasper, Jefferson, Harris, Montgomery, Rockland 
counties, etc.), resident. 

518. Sitta pygmaea. Pygmy Nuthatch. 

Common in the Guadalupe Mountains. Resident. (Oberholser, The 
Auk, XIX, 1902, p. 301). 

FAMILY Paridae. Titmice. 

519. Baelophus bicolor. Tufted Titmouse. 

Eastern section of Texas, south and west to Matagorda, Victoria and 
Bexar counties. Resident. Rather common at Waco. 

520. Baelophus atricristatns. Black-crested Titmouse. 

Rio Grande Valley, from Brownsville west to El Paso. Very abundant 
in the trans-Pecos country, resident. 



THEBIRDSOFTEXAS 65 



521. Baelophus atricristatus sennettii. Sennett's Titmouse. 

Central Texas, east to the valley of the Brazos (Young county 
to Harris county), south to Neuces and Bee counties, west to 
Tom Green and Concho counties, north to Young county. (Ridg- 
way.) 

522. Baelophus inornatus griseus. Gray Titmouse. 

Fairly common in the Guadalupe Mountains (Oberholser). 

523. Penthestes carolinensis agilis. Texan Chickadee. 

Eastern and Central Texas (south to Bee and Refugio counties, west 
to Bexar, Kendall and eastern Comal counties). 

524. Paras gambeli. Mountain Chickadee. 

Guadalupe and Davis Mountains (Oberholser, The Auk, XIX, 1902, 
301.) 

525. Psaltriparas melanotis lloydi. Lloyd's Bush-Tit. 

Guadalupe, Davis and Chisos Mountains (Bailey.) 

526. Psaltriparas plumbeus. Lead-colored Bush-Tit. 

Mountains of the trans-Pecos region. We collected examples of both 
species of Bush-Tits in the Davis Mountains in April and May. 

527. Auriparus f laviceps. Verdin. 

Southern Texas, north to Bexar and Refugio counties, west to El P aso 
Summer resident at Refugio and San Antonio but probably winters on 
the Lower Rio Grande. 

FAMILY Sylviidae. Warblers, Kinglets, Gnatcatchers. 

528. Regulus satrapa. Golden-crowned Kinglet. 

Winter visitor, rather irregular in appearance, occurring south to 
Houston and San Antonio. Severe winters a few remain at Waco 
throughout the season. 

529. Regulus calendula. Ruby-crowned Kinglet. 

Abundant migrant and winter resident, from the northern boundary 
to the Rio Grande. 

530. Polioptila caeralea. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. 

Eastern half of the State, summer resident, breeding from the 
northern boundary south to the Rio Grande. 

531. Polioptila caeralea obscura. Western Gnatcatcher. 

Trans-Pecos region, summer resident. 



66- BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



532. Polioptila phmte. Plumbeous Gnatcatcher. 

Abundant summer resident of the high mountains of the trans-Pecos 
region, east during the migrations to Rio Grande City (Oberholsen 
Ridgway). 

FAMILY iMdiiae, TJiFBskes, Bluebirds, eta 

533. Myadestes townsendii. Townsend 8 s Solitaire. 

Western Texas, resident, rare in summer. Reported as breeding at 
Saragossa by Lloyd. Prade shot one example in the Davis Mountains 
in the middle of May. 

534. Hykcichla musteline Wood Thrush. 

Eastern section of the State, summer resident. Reported as a mi- 
grant from most localities south of the northeastern corner. Rare 
migrant at Waco. 

535. HylocicWa f uscescens. Wilson's Thrush. 

Migrant, not very common, through the eastern half of the State. 

536. Eylociclila fuscesce&s saUdcola.. Willow Thrush. 

Rare migrant The only authentic record I could find was the speci- 
men from Cooke county (Gainesville) mentioned in Cook's u Bird Mi- 
gration in the Mississippi Valley.*' 

537. Hyf acichla aliciae. Gray-cheeked Thrush. 

Migrant through the eastern half of the State. Rare at Gaines- 
ville (Ragsdaie), common at San Antonio (Attwater), rare at 
Waco. 

538. Hyfacichla astufate swaittsuuL Olive-backed Thrush. 

Migrant, not common. Reported from Gainesville (Ragsdaie), Tom 
Green comity (lioyd) and Waco. 

539. Hylarichla guttata, Kadiak Dwarf Thresh. 

Migrant throtign the western half of the State. Ridgway mentions 
this thrash from the following localities; El Paso, Tom Green and 
Concho counties, San Antonio, Leon Springs, Langtry, Mouth of the 
Pecos. 

540. Kyktichla guttata audafeeii Rocky Mountain Hermit Thrush.. 

Migrates through Western Texas as far east as San Antonio. 
Bailey records it from the Guadalupe Mountains, probably breed- 
ing. 



THE BIRDS OF TEXAS €7 



541. Hyloricbla guttata pailasii Hermit Thrush- 

Migrant through the eastern half of Texas. Recorded from San An- 
tonio, January to March; Corpus Christ!, March; Leon Springs, March; 
Gainesville, March; Fort Clark, December 27; Kendall county, March. 
(Ridgway and Cooke). Observed by the writer in McLennan and 
Falls counties in mild winters from the last of November to the middle 
of March. 

542. Planesticus migratorins. American Robin. 

Abundant migrant and winter resident of the eastern half of the State, 
west as far as Tom Green and Concho counties. 

543. Planesticus migratorins propinpns* Western Robin. 

Abundant migrant and winter resident of Western Texas, occurring 
as far east as Kendall county. Guadalupe Mountains, probably breed- 
ing (Bailey). I have specimens of this sub-species that were shot at 
Paisano as late as May 5, and am positive that others were seen later 
in the month in the same vicinity. 

544. Sialia sialis. Bluebird. 

Eastern half of the State, west to Val Verde county and the edge of 
the plains, resident, breeding locally from the northern border to the 
Rio Grande. 

545. Sialia mexicana bairii. Chestnut-backed Bluebird. 

Western Texas, east during the migrations to Kendall, Tom Green and 
Concho counties. Breeds in the mountains of the trans- Pecos 
region (Bailey). 

546. Sialia arctica. Mountain Bluebird. 

Migrant and winter resident in trans-Pecos section. During the migra- 
tions more or less irregularly over nearly the whole State (south to 
Corpus Christi and Bonham.) 



68 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 



Hypothetical List 



1.(382.1) Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha Swainson. Thick-billed Parrot. 

May straggle across the Rio Grande River from Mexico. Has been col- 
lected in Arizona. 

2. (420c) Chordeiles virginianus sennettii Coues. Sennett's Nighthawk. 

Great Plains, south to Texas (A. 0. U. Check-List). No specific local- 
ities for this species. 

3. ( — ) Otocoris alpestris chrysolaema Wagler. Mexican Horned Lark. 

=Alauda minor Giraud. "Texas.'" Inhabits the southern portion of 
the Mexican Plateau. Only three of Giraud's "Sixteen Species of Tex- 
as Birds" have ever been collected within the limits of Texan territory. 
These are Icterus audubonii Giraud, Catherpes mexicanus albifrons 
(Giraud) (=Certhia albifrons Giraud) and Astragalinus psaltria mex- 
icanus Swainson (=Fringilla texensis Giraud). 

4. ([450]) Myiozetetes texensis Giraud. Giraud's Flycatcher. 

=Muscicapa texensis Giraud. "Texas." Southern Mexico. A 0. U. 
Check-List on authority of Giraud's "Texas" specimen. 

5. ([455]) Myiarchus lawrenceii Giraud. Lawrence Flycatcher. 

=Muscicapa lawrenceii Giraud. "Texas." Included in the North 
American list on the above authority. An inhabitant of Eastern and 
Southern Mexico. 

6. ([470]) Empidonax fnlvifrons Giraud. Fulvous Flycatcher. 

=Muscicapa fulvifrons Giraud. '"Texas." Probably mountains of 
Northeastern Mexico (Ridgway). 

7. (490) Corvus ossifragus Wilson. Fish Crow. 

This species is resident on the coast of Louisana. 

8. (541) Ammodramus princeps Maynard. Ipswich Sparrow. 

Recorded from Dallas by Sennett (The Auk, m, 1886, p. 135). Prob- 
ably an error, arising, as suggested by Cooke ("Bird Migration in the 
Mississippi Valley, 1888, p. 188) from a transposition of labels. 



THEBIRDSOFTEXAS 69 



9. (565) Spizella atrigularis Cabanis. Black-chinned Sparrow. 

North to the Upper Rio Grande in Texas. (Cooke, "Bird Migration in 

the Mississippi Valley"). I can find no definite locality records for 

this species, if it really occurs in Western Texas. 
10. ([606]) Euphonia elegantissima Bonaparte. Blue-headed Euphonia. 

=Pipra galericulata Giraud. "Texas." Inhabits Southern Mexico. 
11.(650) Dendroica tigrina Gmelin. Cape May Warbler. 

I can find no Texas records for this species. 
12.(651) Peucedramus olivacea Giraud. Olive Warbler. 

=Sylvia olivacea Giraud. "Texas." Highlands of Guatamala and 

Mexico, north to mountains of Central Arizona. 

13. (672; Dendrioca palmarum Gmelin. Palm Warbler. 

This warbler winters in Louisiana and (probably) Eastern Texas. 

14. (665) Dendroica nigrescens Townsend. Black-throated Gray Warbler. 

=Sylvia halseii Giraud, "Texas." Western mountain States. 

15. (688) Setophaga picta Swainson. Painted Redstart. 

=Muscicapa leucosmus Giraud. "Texas." Higher mountains of 
Northern Mexico and Southern and Central Arizona. 

16. ( [689] ) Setophaga miniata Swainson. Red-bellied Redstart. 

=Muscicapa derhamii Giraud. "Texas." Mexico. 

17. (690) Cardellina rubrifrons Giraud. Red-faced Warbler. 

=Muscicapa rubrifrons Giraud. "Texas." Higher mountains of 
Northern Mexico, Southern Arizona, etc. 

18. ([691]) Ergaticus ruber Swainson. Red Warbler. 

=Parus leucotis Giraud. "Texas." An inhabitant of the highlands 
of Mexico. 

19. ([692]) Basileuterus culicivorus brasherii Giraud. Brasher 's Warbler. 

=Muscicapa brasierii Giraud. "Texas." Northeastern Mexico. 

20. ( [693] ) Basileuterus belli! Giraud. Bell's Warbler. 

=Muscicapa bellii Giraud. "Texas." Southeastern Mexico. 



OMISSIONS 

Page 24 (Bottom of page.) After ORDER Columbae add FAMILY Colum bidae 
Page 87. (Under Tyrannus tyrannus.) Last sentence should read: "Rather com 
mon summer resident at Waco, 



LB JL '12 



BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 

VOLUME XV, NUMBER 1 



The Birds of Texas 

An Annotated Check-List 



By JOHN K. STRECKER Jr. 

Curator Baylor University Museum 




\ 



FOUNDED IN 1845 AT INDEPENDENCE 
UNDER THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS 



JANUARY, 1912 



PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY 
ENTERED AS SECOND CLASS MATTER AT THE POST OFFICE AT WACO, TEXAS 



Monograph. 



